WE refer to IOI Corporation Bhd’s response to the MWR2R (Migrant Workers’ Right to Redress Coalition) statement on International Migrant Workers’ Day, published by FocusM on Dec 21, 2021.
We appreciate IOI Berhad’s statement that it is a ‘responsible and exemplary’ company, committed to upholding labour rights.
In the context of our article which focused on the practice of forced labour by about half a dozen large Malaysian companies of international standing, this kind of commitment is needed from all Malaysian companies to ensure a workplace that is free from labour abuse and modern slavery.
The following are some of the concrete measures that the government needs to enforce to achieve this:
- No withholding of passports thus removing one of the factors contributing to migrant worker vulnerability;
- Proper right to redress mechanisms that enable workers to take up grievances with the relevant labour agencies without facing repercussions such as dismissal;
- Recruitment based on labour shortage without the involvement of labour contractors. This will help address the problems of overdependence on migrant labour and the spawning of large numbers of undocumented workers;
- Proper accommodation in line with the guidelines on housing and basic amenities; and
- Proper access to health care. The government should use a portion of the levy money, which now amounts to about RM3 bil a year, to provide subsidised healthcare to migrant workers who require medical attention.
We believe that these suggestions will go a long way towards improving the situation of migrant workers in the various employment sectors, thus removing the IOI as well as other Malaysian companies from the scrutiny of the US Customs authorities.
We also wish to thank the IOI Berhad for pointing out that they have not as yet faced sanctions by the US Customs and Border Protection, unlike what was implied in the first paragraph of our statement:
“Malaysia-based global plantation giants FGV Holdings, Sime Darby Plantations and IOI Corporation share the dishonour of being shamed internationally for using forced labour in their migrant workforce dependent operations in Malaysia. Their products were banned by US customs authorities and dropped from supply chains.”
The second sentence should read:
“The products of the first two companies were banned by US customs authorities, and dropped from supply chains, whilst the third company is being probed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the same allegations.” – Dec 29, 2021
Rani Rasiah is a member of the Migrant Workers’ Right To Redress Coalition (R2R).
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
