India, Malaysia sign agreement on employing migrant workers

According to news sources below:
On January 3 2009 India signed a bilateral labour mobility agreement with Malaysia, The broad procedure for employment of workers and the responsibilities of employees, workers and recruitment agencies are outlined in the agreement.
With the agreement, both countries hope to reduce the activities of unscrupulous recruitment agents and provide workers a fair deal in terms of labour law protection and compensations provided by the host country, with this agreement, both party hopes to improve the conditions of the existing workers and bring them under the prevailing labour laws and the social security net of the country.
The two governments will work together on pre-departure orientation and upgrading of skills. They have also agreed for protection and welfare of all categories of workers under the labour and other laws of the host country.
A sufficiently strong legal framework to ensure such recruitment is done in ordinary manner and any problems which might arise could be resolved on the basis of suitable systems and mechanics which will be set up by the joint committee, a body comprising representatives from the two countries to ease the situation.
The JWG consisting of at least three members from each Government will meet twice a year, alternatively in India and Malaysia. They work including to cited cases where Indian workers arrived in Malaysia to find they had no jobs; despite having paid recruiting agents to find them work.


India and Malaysia in labour pact
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Jan. 3: India today signed a bilateral labour mobility agreement with Malaysia, but Kuala Lumpur’s policy of cutting down on migrant workers — from the existing 12 million to 1.8 million — continues.
Both sides said supply of labour was demand-based.
With the agreement, both countries hope to reduce the activities of unscrupulous recruitment agents and provide workers a fair deal in terms of labour law protection and compensations provided by the host country.
Currently there are 1.5 million Indian workers in Malaysia, mostly in service sectors and plantation-based industries.
“With this agreement, we hope to improve the conditions of the existing workers and bring them under the prevailing labour laws and the social security net of the country,” said Malaysia’s human resource minister S. Subramanian, who signed the agreement with minister for overseas Indian affairs Vyalar Ravi.
“There is also scope for enhancing pre-departure and orientation training for workers in the agreement. The agreement will also check unscrupulous agents,” Ravi said.
A joint working group consisting of six members from both countries will also be constituted to review and set the administrative framework of the agreement.
The joint working group and a ministerial committee will meet periodically every year.
But the Malaysian minister admitted that the policy of discouraging migration still existed in his country.
“We have a policy to reduce the number of migrant workers to 1.8 million from the existing 12 million. Then recruitment of workers is based on demand. Wherever and whenever there is a demand, we will recruit workers,” Subramanian said.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090104/jsp/nation/story_10340946.jsp



India, Malaysia sign pact on employing labourers
By Rajiv Gupta on January 4th, 2009 14 views
New Delhi, Jan.3 (ANI): India and Malaysia on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for improving recruitment and working condition of employees.
Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and the Malaysian Human Resources Minister Dato Dr. S. Subramaniam signed the MoU in New Delhi.
“It is a major milestone in our friendship mark towards the protection of Indian workers going abroad and of course it will further strengthen relation between Malaysia and India,” said Ravi.
The broad procedure for employment of workers and the responsibilities of employees, workers and recruitment agencies are outlined in the agreement.
With the signing of MoU both the nations have agreed to facilitate orderly recruitment and deployment of workers.
The two governments will work together on pre-departure orientation and upgrading of skills.
They have also agreed for protection and welfare of all categories of workers under the labour and other laws of the host country.
A joint working group (JWG) would be set up to implement the MoU and review employment opportunities and availability of corresponding skills in both countries.
“This joint committee will work out the administrative details of how are we are going to implement the spirit of intentions of this memorandum of understanding. Hope with this we will have a sufficiently strong legal framework to ensure such recruitment is done in ordinary manner and any problems which might arise could be resolved on the basis of suitable systems and mechanics which will be set up by the joint committee,” said Subramaniam.
The group will also explore new avenues for cooperation in the field of labour and manpower development for mutual benefit.
The JWG consisting of at least three members from each Government will meet twice a year, alternatively in India and Malaysia.
Malaysia is an important destination for Indian workers. According to official estimates of the Malaysian Government, there are approximately 150,000 Indian workers in Malaysia, out of about 2 million foreign workers there.
Most of the Indian workers work in the plantation and construction sectors. During 2007, about 30,916 workers immigrated to Malaysia after obtaining emigration clearance.(ANI)
http://silverscorpio.com/india-malaysia-sign-pact-on-employing-labourers/
Malaysia, India to sign pact to protect workers: report
6 days ago
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia and India are to sign a labour accord Saturday to govern the recruitment and welfare of their workers in each other's country, a report said Monday.
Malaysia's Human Resources Minister S. Subramaniam said the document would address abuses by recruiting agents and others against Indian workers brought into the country.
It will be signed by Subramaniam and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi in New Delhi on January 3, The Star newspaper reported.
Malaysia is one of the largest importers of foreign labour in Asia. Foreign workers, both legal and illegal, account for about 2.6 million of its 10.5 million workforce.
The Star said there were about 150,000 Indian workers in the country, many of them in the plantation, construction and services industries.
Subramaniam cited cases where Indian workers arrived in Malaysia to find they had no jobs, despite having paid recruiting agents to find them work.
The agreement would set up a body comprising representatives from the two countries to ease the situation, he said.
Abuses against foreign workers are frequently reported in Malaysia's media.
In May last year, a Malaysian employer and his family were accused of starving and torturing an Indian migrant worker and then leaving his body in a remote jungle.
The three had allegedly beaten Ganesh Kumar Ramamoorthy, 28, from Tamil Nadu state, with canes and steel chains. They have been charged with manslaughter.

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