Some seven lakh Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia are now facing either unem-ploy-ment or under-employment, a Malaysian human rights activist has said.
Talking to The Daily Star here recently. Irene Fernandez. Director of Tenaganita. a Kuala Lumpur-based non-government organization, drew a grim picture of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.
Irene, who was on a week-long visit to Bangladesh to attend an international workshop on migrant workers in Dhaka, said quite a big number of Bangladeshi workers had no Job or were working only twice-a-week in the wake of the economic slowdown that put the fast growing South-East Aslan quite a few months now.
She feared that work permits of foreign workers in service sectors would not be renewed after expiry of the contract period in August next.
She said, condition of "undocumented workers." who constitute half of Malaysia's total foreign labour force, was worse.
"For overstay or entry without legal documents, one has to Count 30 ringit per day as compound'. upto 3.000 ringit. Otherwise, one would not be provided with 'exit-pass' and there Some seven lakh Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia are now facing either unem-ploy-ment or under-employment, a Malaysian human rights activist has said.
Talking to The Daily Star here recently. Irene Fernandez. Director of Tenaganita. a Kuala Lumpur-based non-government organization, drew a grim picture of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.
Irene, who was on a week-long visit to Bangladesh to attend an international workshop on migrant workers in Dhaka, said quite a big number of Bangladeshi workers had no Job or were working only twice-a-week in the wake of the economic slowdown that put the fast growing South-East Aslan quite a few months now.
She feared that work permits of foreign workers in service sectors would not be renewed after expiry of the contract period in August next.
She said, condition of "undocumented workers." who constitute half of Malaysia's total foreign labour force, was worse.
"For overstay or entry without legal documents, one has to Count 30 ringit per day as compound'. upto 3.000 ringit. Otherwise, one would not be provided with 'exit-pass' and there
would be risk of being put behind the bar." Irene explained.
She further said, "we from Tenaganita. asked the government for waiver of this com-pound' but, to no effect so far. Bangladesh, along with Indonesia. whose contribution to Malaysian foreign labour force is 15 lakh, should now demand the waiver."
Commenting on the Malaysian government's plan for re-deployment of retrenched foreign workers from construction sector to plantation and export-led industrial sectors. Irene said. "This would hardly absorb two lakh workers whereas, the government plans retrenchment of 10 lakh workers."
Irerte Fernandez, who championed the cause of foreign workers, particularly those from Bangladesh in Malaysia, said that despite a recent increase of yearly 'levy' on foreign workers, the Malaysian government did not bother to create any welfare fund for the benefit of workers. "Malaysia now earns four billion ringit from levy on foreign workers." said Irene.
In August 1995. 1 came up with a memorandum depicting the picture of abuses and tortures on Bangladeshis in immigration detention centres in Malaysia." -recalled Irene.
She was arrested by Malaysian police in March 1996 on charge of publishing "false" news. Trial of the case is continuing. Hearing continued for 125-Uays.-the tongeat-trftd-in-Malaystan legal history, claimed Irene.
Thirty five witnesses appeared before the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court so far but. "the Prosecution has not yet come up with proofs." she said.
She said her submission for constituting an 'independent Judicial body’ or at least, transferring her case to High Court was turned down. "My case is not a question of mere falsehood or truth. It is about Freedom of Expression."
Irene is now in her early fifties with three children. Her father had migrated to Malaysia from Kerala, India.
She further noted that with the plunge of ringit's value against US dollar, one ringit is now worth only Taka 10 whereas, it was Taka 17 earlier. "I wonder how Bangladeshi workers with such low payment would be able to send their savings home.''
Besides, trade unions have now became vocal demanding of the government to give priority to local workers than foreigners because the economic slump has affected their jobs, he said.
"Not that foreign workers made their own fortune by giving labour rather, they did contribute enormously in building the economy of Malaysia. It - would be the biggest blunder for Malaysia if it forgets that contribution." said Irene, who launched Tenaganita in 1991 to promote and protect rights of women. In Bangla Language. Tenaganita means women Force' or Nari Shakti'.
Tenaganita opened two centres recently at Keleng Valley on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur to provide legal support to foreign workers. Irene said, there should be one at Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia.