Malaysia probes cases of migrant workers left jobless, without passports
- The issue revives concerns over labour abuses in a key manufacturing hub in the global supply chain that has faced several accusations of exploitation
- The workers are at a high risk of forced labour in a plight worsened by debt bondage, poor living conditions, isolation and limited freedom of movement
Malaysia has launched an investigation to uncover how hundreds of migrant workers arrived from South Asia without jobs, despite having paid steep fees to get employment, officials and rights groups said.
The issue revives concerns over labour abuses in Malaysia, a key manufacturing hub at the heart of the global supply chain that has faced several accusations in recent years over exploitation of workers.
Hundreds of workers from Bangladesh and Nepal have arrived since December after paying up to 20,000 ringgit (US$4,500) to middlemen to get employment, officials of two rights groups who interviewed dozens of the workers said.
Many took loans to pay recruitment fees, but are unable to start repaying them without jobs or salaries, the activists said, adding that on arrival, their passports had been taken away by recruitment agents.
“These workers are at high risk of forced labour and severe destitution,” said independent labour activist Andy Hall, whose team has been in contact with the migrant workers.
Their plight was worsened by factors such as debt bondage, poor living conditions, isolation and limited freedom of movement after their passports were confiscated, he added.
