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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