The Indian High Commission is expected to release a statement tomorrow on the status and future of 18 of its nationals who are left in the lurch in the country following a dispute with their employer.

Its second secretary, Charan Jeet Laal, told malaysiakini today that he was not authorised to comment on the abuse and fraud claims made by workers from Punjab against their employer.

"My superiors are discussing the matter and will release an official statement tomorrow." he said.

However, Charan revealed that the workers had approached him on July 8 with their grievances and he had subsequently held a meeting with the employer in the presence of the workers.

In a complaint to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) lodged yesterday, the 17 men and one woman alleged they were abused, humiliated and exploited by their employer Khatijah Fateh.

They claimed that Khatijah had yet to pay them their promised salaries of RM1,500 per month even though they had worked very hard for the past three months. The group arrived in Malaysia in April.

Another meeting

This morning, representative from migrant workers' lobby group Tenaganita met with the High Commission's first secretary R V Ramanan to discuss their case.

"We hope that the High Commission will find a solution for these workers," said Aegile Fernandez (photo, left), Tenaganita's programme coordinator.

According to her, it was revealed during the meeting that the employer did not register the 18 of them with the High Commission contrary to a rule which requires all employers to do so within ten days of the arrival of the foreign workers.

Fernandez claimed that Ramanan agreed to contact the employer for another meeting to resolve the matter.

"It is important that we not look at this case in insolation as such problems encountered by migrant workers are widespread in our country," she said.

System failed them

Fernandez also said that the government should repatriate every single migrant worker because "we Malaysians don't know how to treat them and don't know how to value other human beings".

"Only when they are gone will we realise how valuable their contributions are to us," she added.

The abuse of migrant workers by employers has been a thorny issue with numerous reports of human rights violations.

"1.2 million migrant workers, most of whom came in legally to the country were undocumented because their employers and the system had failed them." Fernandez added.

The Malaysian government is currently acting to forcibly expel the large number of foreigners deemed to be illegal as they were 'undocumented'.

Meantime, Tenaganita viewed with great concern the welfare and security of the 18 Sikh workers as they wait for a solution to their problems.

They are now sheltered at a Sikh temple in Kuala Lumpur.

MTUC anger

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has strongly criticised the inhuman manner in which the workers from Punjab were treated.

MTUC president Zainal Rampak was quoted as saying that the matter needed urgent investigation.

"The affected workers had their passport and money confiscated by their employer. They were not paid their wages, assaulted by their employer and were also forced to live on flour and dhall as their food as they had no cash," said Zainal.