UN: Continued exploitation of Bangladeshi workers in M'sia alarming

 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) experts have sounded an alarm over alleged continued exploitation, deception, and deepening debt bondage involving Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia.

In a statement yesterday, the organisation claimed to have been informed that thousands of workers recruited through the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services (BOES) remain stranded in the country or face exploitation risks in Malaysia.

This is despite paying recruitment fees that allegedly exceed the official fees by more than five times.

They further claimed that the workers’ passports were confiscated by employers, and that the employers were given false job promises, and that there were issues of discrepancies between contracts and promised employment packages.

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They also claimed that the workers’ private information was published without their consent.

“We are deeply troubled that fraudulent recruitment and the exploitation of migrants remain widespread and systematic in Malaysia.

“These practices continue to cause significant human rights harms to affected workers and their families.

“Some migrants have reportedly been asked to make additional payments, while others have been reassigned to jobs without their consent.

“We also received reports of workers being pressured to sign or record false declarations stating that they had only paid official fees shortly before departure,” said the statement.

The organisation further claimed that a small number of recruitment agencies operate as a closed syndicate sustained by corruption, lack of transparency, and systemic exploitation.

‘Conduct independent probes’

Following this, the organisation called on Bangladeshi and Malaysian governments to conduct prompt and independent investigations into reported abuses, as well as to provide effective remedies, including restitution and debt relief, and enhance cooperation to dismantle exploitative recruitment networks.

This is because any involuntary repatriations and any form of reprisals by either governments or employers against migrant workers following these issues are wholly unacceptable and violate international human rights obligations.

“We urged the Bangladeshi government to strengthen the oversight of recruitment agencies, possibly through a centralised job portal, and prohibit the collection of fees from migrant workers.

“They are also urged to provide pre-departure training for workers on their rights and establish effective reporting channels to secure remedies to migrants.

“(While) the Malaysian government are urged to ensure stronger safeguards to protect migrants from exploitation, arbitrary arrest, detention or deportation.

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“Both governments (are urged) to intensify their efforts to ensure that migrant workers are not criminalised or re-victimised, and that fraudulent recruitment agencies and other responsible actors are held accountable.”

The experts further urged both governments to strengthen independent oversight in cooperation with civil society, trade unions, national human rights institutions, and UN agencies.

In addition, they called for expanded labour inspections in high-risk sectors and effective firewalls between labour rights enforcement/service providers and immigration enforcement authorities.

The UN also reiterated its readiness to continue constructive dialogue with both governments and relevant actors, and that its experts have been in contact with the Malaysian and Bangladeshi governments on these issues. - Mkini