THE Government should establish a high-level committee tasked to manage hiring and protect the welfare of our migrant workers.
“It’s time for the Government to overhaul our standard operating procedure (SOP) on how we hire and protect the welfare of our migrant workers by establishing a top-level committee.
“And please don’t get a minister to chair the committee as it will only add red tapes to the whole process,” UNI-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) president Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal told FocusM.
Recently, the Labour Department announced that it has opened 19 investigation papers against Top Glove Bhd on allegations of flouting the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446), and will refer the findings to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
Yesterday, AFP reported that migrant workers employed by the glove manufacturer live in appalling conditions, which exposed many of them to COVID-19.
One of its employees, Yam Narayan Chaudhray, a Nepali security guard had died due to complications from the virus two days ago. He was stationed at Top Glove’s 13th factory in Meru, Klang.
Sources told FocusM that Top Glove, a company that carries the motto of “Top quality, top efficiency, good health, safety first & be honest”, supposedly directs its staff to recite them before meetings.
The company was claimed to even send its employees to the gym if they are deemed overweight, as well as encourages them to brush their teeth regularly.
On the Top Glove issue, Shafie said that it boils down to two pertinent issues: (i) lack of enforcement from the authorities; and (ii) lack of discipline from the firm.
Lack of enforcement, compassion deficit
In terms of enforcement, the labour union leader said that authorities should go out and conduct consistent checks on how companies treat their migrant workers, instead of just holding meetings with the firm’s management.
“They should go out there physically and ensure companies abide by our labour standards. When a company wants to hire foreign workers, don’t just simply give them approval without ensuring they provide all necessary means to protect the migrant workers’ welfare.
“Let’s be honest here. Many companies were not following SOP on migrant workers even before the pandemic. It’s just that many were oblivious about it and the virus exposed all this,” Shafie pointed out.
On welfare, Shafie said that it should be all encompassing, covering issues such as reasonable working hours, fair wages, health benefits, accommodation and others.
On the company’s side, he said that business establishment should start looking at its employees – local or foreigners – as human beings instead of just tools for profit-making.
“This is also your corporate social responsibility. This applies not only to Top Glove but all other companies that hire migrant workers.
“Even now, if the authorities inspect other companies hiring migrant workers, you will see how these people are living in horrible conditions,” said Shafie.
However, he said that there is no point of blaming anyone right now, adding that it was more important for everyone to learn from mistakes and improve laws dealing with migrant workers’ welfare.
“Throw the book at Top Glove if they are found guilty but our enforcement team must also take responsibility if they are wrong.
“We need to show to the world that Malaysia cares for its migrant workers,” Shafie remarked.
Gov’t dragging its feet
Echoing Shafie’s sentiments, the North South Initiative (NSI) said Malaysia needs a comprehensive policy to deal with migrant workers’ rights.
“Right now, all our laws are scattered among different Government departments and ministries, primarily Health, Human Resources and Home Ministries.
“But we have no choice. We must act now. Besides, what were our labour inspectors doing all this while? They should be held accountable,” opined its founder-cum-director Adrian Pereira.
He also said it was “peculiar” that Top Glove was not hauled up by the authorities earlier despite being in the limelight for some time now with a pensions fund even investing in the firm.
“We need serious reforms to protect our migrant workers. There is a health crisis plaguing the nation and we cannot have this ‘business as usual’ approach.
“However, our Government doesn’t seem to have the resolve to address the matter,” added Pereira.
NSI is non-governmental organisation that deals with marginalised group such as indigenous people, refugees, migrant workers and others. – Dec 14, 2020
