COMMENT When will the state stop robbing the poor? As monopolisation 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.

This article clearly explains the motivations and objectives of our Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who supports bringing in 1.5 million additional Bangladeshi workers while simultaneously arresting, detaining and deporting the undocumented workers already here.

This instead of legalising/ 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 to deplorable work conditions, severe deductions from pay, passports and documents being withheld and threats of arrest and detention.

 

According to the Home Ministry, 1.5 million workers from Bangladesh will be arriving in Malaysia soon. However, this process - a profit-driven business-to-business arrangement – is without substantial oversight.

It also raises serious questions as to where (or to whom) the 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.

 

Why is there a need for new recruitment when several million migrants and refugees are already in this country already working? Why can't they be legalised 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?

 

Knee-jerk reactions

The 6P legalisation 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 remaining 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 of migrants and refugees.

 

Tenaganita would like to remind 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 must 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.

This together with 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/non-state actors.

 

The road to progress is long and difficult, but Tenaganita refuses to be deterred by threats nor silenced from speaking the truth.

Tenaganita, therefore, 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.

GLORENE A DAS is executive director of Tenaganita.