Over 200 workers rescued from ‘appalling’ conditions in Nilai

 

Human Resources Ministry officials have rescued over 200 migrant workers living in “appalling” conditions at a transit home in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, today.

Speaking to reporters after the raid, its minister V Sivakumar said the workers from Bangladesh and Nepal have been at the transit home for 40 days but have yet to be given work.

Describing the scene as “heart-breaking”, the minister added that some have also claimed to have not been paid.

“They have been here, but after 40 days, they are still not placed at any jobs. They don’t know what will happen to them and some broke down in tears,” he said.

Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar with his officers at the raid

Sivakumar said the ministry was acting on the information provided by the Bangladesh embassy and found the workers to be living in cramped conditions with about 60 of them on each floor of the building.

They have been relocated today to a nearby Centralised Labour Quarters where they will be provided with proper food and shelter.

Sivakumar added that the 226 workers are part of an intake of 608 workers for three companies in the janitorial services sector and 390 workers for one company in the manufacturing sector. This is out of a quota of 1,719 migrant workers approved for these companies.

However, 327 workers are still out of work, and another 281 workers have been placed in sectors where migrant workers are not allowed to work.

In a statement later, the ministry said it would look for jobs for the 327 jobless workers to prevent them from falling prey to job scams and human traffickers, which would have an adverse impact on Malaysia’s forced labour indicators.

Employers warned

Meanwhile, Sivakumar warned employers to ensure they have job openings and suitable accommodation available for the migrant workers they have applied for.

“I can’t fathom how these workers could be brought into this country, with their levies and (other fees) being paid for, but there are no jobs when they arrive. What is going to happen to them?

“I want to give a warning to all employers who do this: The Human Resources Ministry will take stern action. There will be no compromise on this,” he said.

Sivakumar added that four investigation papers have been opened in relation to today’s raid under Section 24D of the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990.

The law stipulates that employee housing must have a certificate from the Labour Department director-general.

An employer who houses an employee in an uncertified accommodation is liable to a fine of up to RM50,000 upon conviction.

A centralised accommodation provider is liable to a fine of up to RM50,000, up to one year of imprisonment, or both. - Mkini