Rights group slams Malaysian proposal to lock up migrant
workers:
Human Rights Watch Wednesday condemned Malaysia's plan to introduce
tough laws that curb the movements of migrant employees and allow
employers "to lock up workers."
Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyuno should commit to protecting millions of
Indonesian migrants working in Malaysia, the New York-based rights
watchdog said in a statement.
Abdullah is currently on a two-day visit of Indonesia to receive an
award for heads of state, the Bintang Republik Indonesia
Adipradana.
Approximately 2.6 million migrants work in Malaysia, and the
majority are Indonesians working in plantations, construction and
domestic service.
"Gaps in labor laws and punitive immigration policies have left
many migrants at risk of abuse and labor exploitation by employers
and recruitment agencies," the rights group said in a report titled
"Indonesia, Malaysia: Overhaul Labour Agreement on Domestic
Workers."
Malaysia recently announced plans to introduce new legislation that
would restrict migrants to their workplace or living quarters, it
said, adding that such measures violated the workers' right to
freedom of movement.
But Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters the government
had yet to make a firm decision on the controversial proposal to
isolate the workers.
"We have to study the implications. The government has not taken a
position on this yet. If we have to do something drastic, then we
have to consider all the implications," he told reporters.
Naji said rising incidents of serious crimes committed by
foreigners may have led police chief Musa Hassan to propose the
idea.
"He must be very concerned about some of the crimes committed by
foreign workers in the country," he said.
Human Rights Watch warned the resulting isolation would also put
them at risk of other abuses, as demonstrated in the case of the
approximately 300,000 migrant domestic workers in Malaysia.
"Instead of improving the situation, Malaysia's proposed foreign
worker bill will make it dramatically worse," said Nisha Varia,
senior researcher on women's rights in Asia for Human Rights
Watch.
"It's shocking that Malaysia is even considering a proposal that
would give employers freedom to lock up workers."
Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia often work gruelling 16-18
hour days, seven days a week, and earn less than 25 US cents per
hour. Some suffer physical or sexual abuse.
The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in May
2006 to regulate migration of domestic workers, but it allows
employers to keep workers' passports and fails to introduce clear
standards on a minimum wage, or a weekly day off.
"While creating the MOU was a step in the right direction, both
Indonesia and Malaysia continue to drag their feet in guaranteeing
the most important protections for these women," said Varia.
"Domestic workers have to rely on the whims of employers rather
than the rule of law for decent working conditions."
Human Rights Watch said Indonesia and Malaysia should reform the
MOU to include, at a minimum, a commitment to pursue legislative
changes to extend equal protection under Malaysia's laws to
domestic workers, and the right of workers to hold their own
passports.
"Migration benefits both countries tremendously ... by providing
important services to Malaysia and needed income to Indonesian
workers," said Varia.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070221/1/46u4b.html
u noe...sometimes the things our neighbour do simply makes me LMAO
i wont want to go to such a country which locks me up n restrict my
freedom to work....
it is ironic, juz like johor blaming singaporeans for their high
crime rates, or blaming girls for wearing sexy skirt when rape
happens.
haix....
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