Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran disagrees that the case of a three-day strike of 2,000 factory workers in Sepang last month is not a criminal matter and only a labour issue, as claimed by the police.
The Nepali workers had last month launched a strike, but ended it after three days following their employer’s promise to settle outstanding salaries.
Kulasegaran said the incident was not merely a labour issue, but a serious one.
"If the police cannot take action, we will do it as we found that our ‘net’ covers a big area in employee protection," Kulasegaran said at a press conference after attending the Responsible Business Alliance forum on forced labour in Penang today.
The minister was responding to a question on police’s response that the case involving the Nepali workers was not criminal in nature.
Sepang police chief Abdul Aziz Ali had told Malaysiakini that no statement was recorded from the employer, as the incident involved no criminal elements.
Kulasegaran said companies that have been charged with forced labour, described as a form of modern slavery, will be sanctioned in the United States.
He said Malaysia is currently in the second tier of the US Trafficking in Persons watchlist.
"If go to the third tier, our goods will be sanctioned, our products will not be able to enter the US market.
"If this happens, it would have a triggering effect, as many western countries will follow as well," Kulasegaran said.
"We are worried about it because there has been companies admitting that they make their employees work over the time limit," he added.
"What's the point of producing goods when others in the world do not buy it?" Kulasegaran asked.
Kulasegaran also cited an example where a company had been charged with 42 offences, while 10 others are under investigation. - Mkini
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