Don’t take easy way out on forced labour, Ramasamy tells Saravanan

 

P Ramasamy says M Saravanan seems to lack the administrative ability to direct his ministry to systematically investigate the issue of forced labour.

PETALING JAYA: Human resources minister M Saravanan should not take the easy way out by asking the United States or the International Labour Organization (ILO) to investigate forced labour practices in Malaysia, says Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy.

He said it is not the job of the US or the ILO to investigate or interfere with labour practices here, but the responsibility of the Malaysian government and the human resources ministry.

“Turning to foreign or international organisations is hardly the way to go in removing the curse of forced labour.

“Saravanan should take the trouble to find out why forced labour exists before turning his attention to its removal,” he said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Saravanan asked the ILO and the US embassy in Malaysia to notify the human resources ministry of any investigation into forced labour so that solutions could be found before Malaysian products are barred from entering the US.

Saravanan said while several Malaysian products had been subjected to export restrictions by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency due to allegations of forced labour, the ministry has yet to receive any reports from the US on them, making it difficult to act against employers.

Ramasamy said the fact that Saravanan turned to the US embassy and the ILO for assistance indicated that he lacked the administrative abilities to direct his ministry to systematically investigate the issue of forced labour.

“The ministry thinks that forced labour is something that can be eradicated by effective enforcement measures coupled with the change in the attitude of employers,” he said. “This is what I call a naive or simplistic approach in dealing with the issue.”

Forced labour exists simply because of the nature and manner of production, Ramasamy added.

“If there is a tendency to use cheap labour for the production of unrefined goods, then it indicates a minimal interest in the value of labour,” he said.

Meanwhile, in response to Saravanan’s appeal earlier this week, the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur said yesterday that it already kept regular contact with the Malaysian government on forced labour matters.- FMT