Ensure ‘crooks’ do not gain from repatriation programme, says activist

 

Undocumented foreign workers may return home without facing legal action under the migrant repatriation programme from March 1 until Dec 31. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Migrant labour rights activist Andy Hall has expressed concern over the government’s announcement that foreign workers without proper papers may return home without facing legal action under the migrant repatriation programme from now until Dec 31.

Hall said while the programme may be beneficial to some foreign workers in Malaysia, detailed screening must be carried out on those leaving to ensure that they were not victims of human trafficking, gross abuse, exploitation, or forced labour.

On Friday, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the undocumented migrant workers, numbering more than 600,000, could return to their home countries without facing legal action under the repatriation programme.

They will only be fined for certain offences under the Immigration Act, he said, adding that a total of 848 had registered to join the programme so far.

In a statement, Hall said the number of undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia could be up to two million, according to some estimates.

He called on the peninsular labour department or related anti-human trafficking officials to screen those applying to leave. Those found to be victims of forced labour should be compensated before they were repatriated under the initiative.

“It seems to me the Malaysian government could, unintentionally perhaps, get many of the indebted, abused and now unemployed foreign workers, through no fault of their own, to leave voluntarily back to their home countries, at a charge to themselves again,” he said.

Hall said it would be concerning should criminal syndicates and abusive employers, officials and brokers or agents that have profited from the serious abuse of foreign workers in Malaysia be able to benefit from their so-called voluntary departure from the country.

He hoped the repatriation programme does not undermine Malaysia’s commitments to combating human trafficking and forced labour, and promoting business and human rights as a whole. - FMT