Cops drop probe on workers' exploitation claims, refer case to Labour Dept

 

Petaling Jaya police will not open an investigation into allegations of unethical recruitment and exploitation lodged by 55 migrant workers in two separate police reports since March 12.

Among them were workers who were detained at Dang Wangi police station, about a week after they lodged a police report alleging their employer exploited them and did not pay their wages.

However, the complaints were transferred to the Petaling Jaya district police because the employer’s office is within that area, Malaysiakini learnt.

However, the police referred the case to the Human Resources Ministry, said Petaling Jaya district police chief Shahrulnizam Jaafar@Ismail.

“The ministry has instructed Beaks Construction Sdn Bhd and Suria Harmoni Resources Sdn Bhd to repatriate the workers or transfer them to other companies for employment.

“The companies were also directed to pay the workers’ salaries starting from the date they were brought into Malaysia,” Shahrulnizam told Malaysiakini.

The workers lodged police reports at the Sentul district police headquarters (IPD) on March 12 and 20 alleging the two construction companies of unpaid wages, unfulfilled job promises, unethical recruitment and exploitation.

However, a day after the last police report was lodged, three workers were hauled to IPD Dang Wangi by their employers, for their alleged involvement in an altercation.

They were remanded for four days to aid police investigations but released on police bail after two days.

The workers had also alleged criminal violation of their passports being withheld by employers, not deployed for work and were unpaid for seven months.

Paid RM19k to work in Malaysia

Speaking to Malaysiakini, one worker who declined to be named said all the workers had paid nothing less than RM19,000 each to their recruitment agents in Bangladesh for job placements in Malaysia.

“I signed my contracts one hour before boarding the flight to Malaysia. I did not notice if my employer had already signed the three-year agreement,” said the worker, adding that he was filled with anticipation.

Meanwhile, Shahrulnizam said the Subang Jaya Labour Department had already instructed employers to remedy the situation after the workers lodged their complaints.

“The ministry had instructed the companies on March 7,” he said.

The workers’ police report also served as notice to the Bangladeshi embassy that their employers held their passports.

Malaysiakini has contacted the employers Beaks Construction and Suria Harmoni, as well as the Human Resources Ministry and Labour Department for a response.

Caught ministers’ attention

On that note, PSM workers’ bureau coordinator Sivaranjani Manickam said the issue had caught the attention of two ministers - Human Resources Minister Steven Sim and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

“The Human Resource Ministry raised the issue with the home minister,” she said.

Sivaranjani added that PSM is also scheduled to meet Sim over the issue next week.

PSM workers’ bureau coordinator Sivaranjani Manickam

According to the Beaks Construction website, the company has four ongoing construction projects developing high-rise residences and houses.

The company had completed a sports complex for the Selayang Municipal Council.

Other completed projects include a floating restaurant in Malacca and a secondary school in Bandar Sri Damansara. - Mkini