DHAKA: Tenaganita (Women's Force urged Malaysia government to legalize or provide work permits and give the right to work to undocumented migrant workers, specially Bangladeshis, who have been here for decades instead of bringing new workers.
The non-profit organization of Malaysia made the urges in a statement issued to Malaysia Prime Minister & Deputy Prime Minister based & refer on banglanews24.com report.
The Director of Teneganita, Glorene Dass issued the statement on August 7, 2015.
Urging to stop robbing the poor, the organization also said as monopolization continues in Malaysia, the powerful continue to appropriate record profits from the pockets of the poorest of society; in this case, they are migrant workers from Bangladesh.
Mentioning banglanews report, it added that the article clearly explains the motivations and objectives of our Deputy Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, both of whom support bringing in 1.5 million additional Bangladeshi workers, while simultaneously arresting, detaining and deporting the undocumented workers already here, instead of legalizing or providing them with work permits and giving the right to work to Refugees, who have been here for decades.
Over the past year, through the mass recruitment and placement schemes, workers from Bangladesh were placed in human trafficking situations as few policies are designed to effectively confront the issue. Workers faced a wide range of violations at the hands of agents, ranging from false promises of pay and work, deplorable work conditions, severe deductions from pay, passports and documents being withheld and threats of arrest and detention, it also said.
According to the Home Ministry, 1.5 million workers from Bangladesh will be arriving in Malaysia soon; however, this processes a profit-driven business-to-business arrangement, without substantial oversight. It also raises serious questions as to where (or to whom) this money would be channeled to, though we have an idea as to who is involved, as is demonstrated by other articles and news agencies covering this issue, the statement added.
(http://www.en.banglanews24.com/fullnews/bn/113901.html).
The organization also raised some questions saying, “Why is there a need for new recruitment when several millions migrants and refugees are already in this country already working? Why can't they be legalized and registered for employment? Is it because this process is not as lucrative as the large-scale import of migrant workers? And will the recruitment of migrants be used once again as a means for political financing, as was revealed in the graft trial of the Director-General of Immigration in 2007?”
Director of Teneganita Glorene Dass, in the statement, said that the 6P legalization process was both fraudulent and proved to be a spectacular failure, as millions of workers remain undocumented; in fact, the use of the biometric system failed precisely because the root causes of workers becoming undocumented were not addressed.
The system of recruitment and placement of migrant workers is riddled with rapid approvals without verification, irresponsible recruitment agents and employers without oversight or accountability and corruption still remains a strong factor both in approvals and in investigations of visa manipulation. And to top it all, the Home Ministry has failed to develop a comprehensive policy on migrant workers as proposed by civil society and the Trade Union movement since 2007.
The government appears intent on continuing this oppressive and corrupt system that continuously profits from the poor and vulnerable. This cruel process results in continued disrespect for the fundamental human rights of disadvantaged people, particularly migrants and refugees, Glorene Dass added.
Tenaganita also urged the government, especially the Home Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, that as head of the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers, they and the ministries under their jurisdiction to behave in a manner that is open, accountable and transparent.
The continued emphasis on knee-jerk reactions to rising problems has only led to a system that supports extreme forms of exploitation of migrants and a culture of modern day slavery. Accountability can only be upheld with clear and comprehensive policies.
The statement also read, “The establishment of regulations that are developed and implemented through a rights-based framework, and by way of substantive and consistent engagement with the affected communities and related state or non-state actors.
Citing the road to progress is long and difficult, Tenaganita said it refuses to be deterred by threats nor silenced from speaking the truth.
Tenaganita, therefore, said it remains open and ready to work with all State parties to ensure that we, as a nation, collectively strive to increase the protection of rights for all migrants and workers in Malaysia.
http://www.en.banglanews24.com/fullnews/bn/113901.html
BDST: 0901 HRS, AUG 8, 2015
RS
