Sunday, December 19, 2010

Make sure employers pay for new medical insurance for migrant workers

The idea of having medical insurance for workers is a good idea, as presently the Workmen's Compensation Act only deals with death and injuries arising from accidents, and occupational related diseases - but not other diseases.

The Workmen's Compensation (Foreign Workers' Compensation Scheme) (Insurance) Order 1998, extends coverage to personal injury(and death) that is sustained in an accident which occurs outside the working hours of the workman.

There is, however, no insurance that covers other diseases and ailments - though in normal employment law, the employer is liable to pay for the treatment. So, really there will be nothing wrong if the employers get their workers medical insurance. Employers should be made to pay for these insurance, and not the workers.

The government states that there is an outstanding unpaid foreign workers’ medical bills in public hospitals, which to date total RM18mil - but, I really do wonder whether this is correct. Could it just be outstanding bills of foreigners generally, and not that of the documented migrant workers only? Should not employers have been settling their worker's medical bills - or the already existing insurances and the Workmen's Compensation? Really, there must be a disclosure as to whose bills are these...



Compulsory medical insurance policies for foreign workers from next year

Source : TheStar Online (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/11/26/nation/7507385&sec=nation), Nov 26, 2010

PUTRAJAYA: All foreign workers employed in Malaysia, except for domestic maids, must have medical insurance coverage under a government ruling effective Jan 1.

The move is to ensure that foreign workers’ medical bills in public hospitals, which to date total RM18mil, will not be a burden to the Government.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said each worker must have medical insurance coverage with an annual premium of RM120.

“The Government has incurred costs because some foreigners who sought treatment at public hospitals left without settling their bills or were only able to make partial payment.

“With medical insurance coverage, we hope this problem can be overcome,” he told reporters after opening the ministry’s management conference here yesterday.

Liow said employers hiring new foreign workers would have to enclose a copy of the medical insurance policy for their prospective employees when applying for a work permit.

For existing foreign workers, employers would have to submit a copy of the insurance policy when renewing their work permits, said Liow.

“The insurance coverage for foreign workers is part of my ministry’s six Entry Points Projects (EPP).

“The other two EPP which we have rolled out are establishing a suitable system to support research development and to further boost health tourism,” he added.

Liow said the ministry’s three other EPP – to explore generic medicine export opportunities, establish a nexus for diagnostic services and develop a health metropolis – were in the planning stages.

However, the question of who would pay the medical insurance premium – employers or their workers – had yet to be settled.

In an immediate reaction, the Malaysian Employers Federation voiced its concern about the insurance coverage to be borne by the 1.5 million foreign workers in the construction, services and manufacturing sectors.

“The bills incurred at government hospitals are not that high.

“Why does the coverage need to be high?” said its executive director Shamsuddin Bardan.

The federation, he added, had proposed for the coverage to start from RM50,000, rather than RM100,000, for each worker.

He said the Government had appointed 31 insurance companies to provide compensation coverage for foreign workers.

Shamsuddin added that more than 200,000 employers would be assisting foreign workers in ensuring that the companies extend the coverage to medical.

“The coverage is for all illnesses suffered by foreign workers while working, including critical illnesses,” he said. - Source: Immigration Department Website



Thursday, November 11, 2010

ILO Conventions ratified by Malaysia & other ASEAN countries (12/11/2010)

Malaysia-Sabah-Sarawak-Peninsular

(Source: ILOLEX - 12. 11. 2010)
ConventionRatification
date
Status
C29 Forced Labour Convention, 1930 11:11:1957 ratified
C50 Recruiting of Indigenous Workers Convention, 1936 11:11:1957 ratified
C64 Contracts of Employment (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1939 11:11:1957 ratified
C65 Penal Sanctions (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1939 11:11:1957 ratified
C81 Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 01:07:1963 ratified
C88 Employment Service Convention, 1948 06:06:1974 ratified
C95 Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 17:11:1961 ratified
C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 05:06:1961 ratified
C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 09:09:1997 ratified
C105 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 13:10:1958 denounced on 10:01:1990
C119 Guarding of Machinery Convention, 1963 06:06:1974 ratified
C123 Minimum Age (Underground Work) Convention, 1965 06:06:1974 ratified
C138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973 09:09:1997 ratified
C144 Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 14:06:2002 ratified
C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 10:11:2000 ratified
Ratified: 14Conditional ratification: 0Declared applicable: 0Denounced: 1

Singapore

(Source: ILOLEX - 12. 11. 2010)
ConventionRatification
date
Status
C5 Minimum Age (Industry) Convention, 1919 25:10:1965 denounced on 07:11:2005
C7 Minimum Age (Sea) Convention, 1920 25:10:1965 denounced on 07:11:2005
C8 Unemployment Indemnity (Shipwreck) Convention, 1920 25:10:1965 ratified
C11 Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 25:10:1965 ratified
C12 Workmen's Compensation (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 25:10:1965 ratified
C15 Minimum Age (Trimmers and Stokers) Convention, 1921 25:10:1965 denounced on 07:11:2005
C16 Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention, 1921 25:10:1965 ratified
C19 Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 25:10:1965 ratified
C22 Seamen's Articles of Agreement Convention, 1926 25:10:1965 ratified
C29 Forced Labour Convention, 1930 25:10:1965 ratified
C32 Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised), 1932 25:10:1965 ratified
C45 Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 25:10:1965 ratified
C50 Recruiting of Indigenous Workers Convention, 1936 25:10:1965 ratified
C64 Contracts of Employment (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1939 25:10:1965 ratified
C65 Penal Sanctions (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1939 25:10:1965 ratified
C81 Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 25:10:1965 ratified
C86 Contracts of Employment (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1947 25:10:1965 ratified
C88 Employment Service Convention, 1948 25:10:1965 ratified
C94 Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) Convention, 1949 25:10:1965 ratified
C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 25:10:1965 ratified
C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 30:05:2002 ratified
C105 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 25:10:1965 denounced on 19:04:1979
C138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973 07:11:2005 ratified
C144 Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 04:10:2010 ratified
C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 14:06:2001 ratified
Ratified: 21Conditional ratification: 0Declared applicable: 0Denounced: 4


Myanmar

(Source: ILOLEX - 12. 11. 2010)
ConventionRatification
date
Status
C1 Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 14:07:1921 ratified
C2 Unemployment Convention, 1919 14:07:1921 ratified
C4 Night Work (Women) Convention, 1919 14:07:1921 denounced on 09:11:1961
C6 Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1919 14:07:1921 ratified
C11 Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 11:05:1923 ratified
C14 Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 11:05:1923 ratified
C15 Minimum Age (Trimmers and Stokers) Convention, 1921 20:11:1922 ratified
C16 Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention, 1921 20:11:1922 ratified
C17 Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925 16:02:1956 ratified
C18 Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention, 1925 30:09:1927 ratified
C19 Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 30:09:1927 ratified
C21 Inspection of Emigrants Convention, 1926 14:01:1928 ratified
C22 Seamen's Articles of Agreement Convention, 1926 31:10:1932 ratified
C26 Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 21:05:1954 ratified
C27 Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention, 1929 07:09:1931 ratified
C29 Forced Labour Convention, 1930 04:03:1955 ratified
C41 Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1934 22:11:1935 denounced on 30:03:1967
C42 Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention (Revised), 1934 17:05:1957 ratified
C52 Holidays with Pay Convention, 1936 21:05:1954 ratified
C63 Convention concerning Statistics of Wages and Hours of Work, 1938 24:11:1961 ratified
C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 04:03:1955 ratified
Ratified: 19Conditional ratification: 0Declared applicable: 0Denounced: 2

Cambodia

(Source: ILOLEX - 12. 11. 2010)
ConventionRatification
date
Status
C4 Night Work (Women) Convention, 1919 24:02:1969 ratified
C6 Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1919 24:02:1969 ratified
C13 White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 24:02:1969 ratified
C29 Forced Labour Convention, 1930 24:02:1969 ratified
C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 23:08:1999 ratified
C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 23:08:1999 ratified
C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 23:08:1999 ratified
C105 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 23:08:1999 ratified
C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 23:08:1999 ratified
C122 Employment Policy Convention, 1964 28:09:1971 ratified
C138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973 23:08:1999 ratified
C150 Labour Administration Convention, 1978 23:08:1999 ratified
C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 14:03:2006 ratified
Ratified: 13Conditional ratification: 0Declared applicable: 0Denounced: 0

(Viet Nam)

(Source: ILOLEX - 12. 11. 2010)
ConventionRatification
date
Status
C5 Minimum Age (Industry) Convention, 1919 03:10:1994 denounced on 24:06:2003
C6 Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1919 03:10:1994 ratified
C14 Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 03:10:1994 ratified
C27 Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention, 1929 03:10:1994 ratified
C29 Forced Labour Convention, 1930 05:03:2007 ratified
C45 Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 03:10:1994 ratified
C80 Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 03:10:1994 ratified
C81 Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 03:10:1994 ratified
C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 07:10:1997 ratified
C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 07:10:1997 ratified
C116 Final Articles Revision Convention, 1961 03:10:1994 ratified
C120 Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 03:10:1994 ratified
C123 Minimum Age (Underground Work) Convention, 1965 20:02:1995 ratified
C124 Medical Examination of Young Persons (Underground Work) Convention, 1965 03:10:1994 ratified
C138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973 24:06:2003 ratified
C144 Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 09:06:2008 ratified
C155 Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 03:10:1994 ratified
C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 19:12:2000 ratified
Ratified: 17Conditional ratification: 0Declared applicable: 0Denounced: 1

Philippines

(Source: ILOLEX - 12. 11. 2010)
ConventionRatification
date
Status
C17 Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925 17:11:1960 ratified
C19 Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 26:04:1994 ratified
C23 Repatriation of Seamen Convention, 1926 17:11:1960 ratified
C29 Forced Labour Convention, 1930 15:07:2005 ratified
C53 Officers' Competency Certificates Convention, 1936 17:11:1960 ratified
C59 Minimum Age (Industry) Convention (Revised), 1937 17:11:1960 denounced on 04:06:1998
C77 Medical Examination of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1946 17:11:1960 ratified
C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 29:12:1953 ratified
C88 Employment Service Convention, 1948 29:12:1953 ratified
C89 Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1948 29:12:1953 ratified
C90 Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention (Revised), 1948 29:12:1953 ratified
C93 Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention (Revised), 1949 29:12:1953 ratified
C94 Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) Convention, 1949 29:12:1953 ratified
C95 Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 29:12:1953 ratified
C97 Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 21:04:2009 ratified
C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 29:12:1953 ratified
C99 Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery (Agriculture) Convention, 1951 29:12:1953 ratified
C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 29:12:1953 ratified
C105 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 17:11:1960 ratified
C110 Plantations Convention, 1958 10:10:1968 ratified
C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 17:11:1960 ratified
C118 Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 26:04:1994 ratified
C122 Employment Policy Convention, 1964 13:01:1976 ratified
C138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973 04:06:1998 ratified
C141 Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975 18:06:1979 ratified
C143 Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 14:09:2006 ratified
C144 Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 10:06:1991 ratified
C149 Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 18:06:1979 ratified
C157 Maintenance of Social Security Rights Convention, 1982 26:04:1994 ratified
C159 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 23:08:1991 ratified
C165 Social Security (Seafarers) Convention (Revised), 1987 09:11:2004 ratified
C176 Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 27:02:1998 ratified
C179 Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Convention, 1996 13:03:1998 ratified
C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 28:11:2000 ratified
Ratified: 33Conditional ratification: 0Declared applicable: 0Denounced: 1

Indonesia

(Source: ILOLEX - 12. 11. 2010)
ConventionRatification
date
Status
C19 Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 12:06:1950 ratified
C27 Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention, 1929 12:06:1950 ratified
C29 Forced Labour Convention, 1930 12:06:1950 ratified
C45 Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 12:06:1950 ratified
C69 Certification of Ships' Cooks Convention 1946 30:03:1992 ratified
C81 Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 29:01:2004 ratified
C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 09:06:1998 ratified
C88 Employment Service Convention, 1948 08:08:2002 ratified
C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 15:07:1957 ratified
C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 11:08:1958 ratified
C105 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 07:06:1999 ratified
C106 Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 23:08:1972 ratified
C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 07:06:1999 ratified
C120 Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 13:06:1969 ratified
C138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973 07:06:1999 ratified
C144 Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 17:10:1990 ratified
C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 28:03:2000 ratified
C185 Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 16:07:2008 ratified
Ratified: 18Conditional ratification: 0Declared applicable: 0Denounced: 0

Thailand

(Source: ILOLEX - 12. 11. 2010)
ConventionRatification
date
Status
C14 Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 05:04:1968 ratified
C19 Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 05:04:1968 ratified
C29 Forced Labour Convention, 1930 26:02:1969 ratified
C80 Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 05:12:1947 ratified
C88 Employment Service Convention, 1948 26:02:1969 ratified
C100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 08:02:1999 ratified
C104 Abolition of Penal Sanctions (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1955 29:07:1964 ratified
C105 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 02:12:1969 ratified
C116 Final Articles Revision Convention, 1961 24:09:1962 ratified
C122 Employment Policy Convention, 1964 26:02:1969 ratified
C123 Minimum Age (Underground Work) Convention, 1965 05:04:1968 denounced on 11:05:2004
C127 Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 26:02:1969 ratified
C138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973 11:05:2004 ratified
C159 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 11:10:2007 ratified
C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 16:02:2001 ratified
Ratified: 14Conditional ratification: 0Declared applicable: 0Denounced: 1









Monday, November 8, 2010

Nepali workers in Malaysia dying of overwork ( nepalnews.com)

Nepali workers in Malaysia dying of overwork
Tuesday, 02 November 2010 16:48

The number of Nepali migrant workers dying due to overwork in Malaysia has grown significantly in recent times.

Overworking for more money is attributed to the increased number of deaths of the workers in Malaysia, where the concentration of Nepali labourers is highest compared to other labour destinations.

The death occurrences during the first six months of 2010 are higher than that of the corresponding period of last year.

Till the month of June this year, 55 Nepali workers lost their lives due to overwork while the same number was 51 in the corresponding period of 2009.

Previously, industrial accidents and chronic ailments used to be the prime causes behind the death of Nepali workers in Malaysia.

However, in the recent period, the problem of excessive work has resulted in the death of such labourers.

The labourers in Malaysia are found to have worked for an excruciating period - from 16 to 18 hours a day- without taking weekly or any other form of leave.

Generally, eight hours is the standard working time length in Malaysia. However, the workers can work up to any hours as per their wishes.

Since the workers get double salary for working in public holidays, more Nepali workers are tempted to make extra bucks without taking necessary physical rest. nepalnews.com -

A Migrant Workers Victory in Malaysia - Johor

Malaysia: migrant workers protest ends in victory

The migrant workers' protest (previously reported on libcom.org) which took place at an electronics factory has ended in a resounding victory for the workers.

More than 5,000 migrant workers of JCY Co. Ltd., an electronics factory in the Tebrau Industrial area of Johor Baru, protested near the workers' quarters over the negligence of their employer when a fellow worker died of high fever while at work. This happened on 16th August when the employer did not allow him to be taken to hospital in time. It is also reported that another Nepalese worker also died on 4th August due to lack of timely treatment.

Migrant workers from Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India had united to register their strong protest over the death of their colleague in that factory. The workers had also highlighted the mistreatment by management, including low wages and no provision of healthcare facilities in the factory, which employs around 8,000 workers. About 200 Police and Federal Reserve Unit personnel were called by management to control the enraged workers. The determined workers put forward a four-point programme of demands, including a salary hike, in order to pressurise management into negotiating, as well as demanding that the Nepalese embassy intervene.

The three days protest ended in a victory for the workers. Management agreed to pay compensation of 10,000 Ringgit to the dead worker's family; increase the minimum monthly salary from 428 to 546 Ringgit; provide an ambulance service for emergency cases and on time treatment at a clinic on the factory premises.

The struggle revealed that when workers are united they can win their demands, even though the employers attempt to use differences in race, country and religion to ‘divide and conquer' workers. Recently, more and more migrant workers in Malaysia have bravely entered into struggle to fight for their rights.

This case of exploitation of migrant workers is only the tip of the iceberg in Malaysia. Most of the more than 3 million migrant workers (almost 10% of the Malaysian population) earn very low wages, work long hours and live and work in appalling conditions. According to the Nepalese embassy, during 2009 a total of 183 Nepalese workers in Malaysia lost their lives, and another 81 workers in the first six months of this year, mainly through illness and suicides. There are also many cases of deaths due to industrial accidents involving migrant workers.

In the meantime, the employers are using low wage migrant workers as a ‘threat' to discourage local workers from demanding high wages. The weak trade unions, with a right-wing reactionary and bureaucratic leadership, are not capable of playing a role in leading common struggles between local and migrant workers. At the same time, almost 90 percent of workers are not unionized, and the government's pro-employer labour and trade union law further undermines the rights of workers.

Although local workers are given a slightly better deal in wages, when compared to the high inflation rate their salary is not sufficient to manage their living expenses. Many are doing two jobs to meet their needs, and many even end up in the hands of loan sharks when they see no other way out. Even a recent government survey of about 1.3 million workers has shown that almost 34 per cent of them earned less than 700 Ringgit a month - below the poverty line of 720 Ringgit per month.

The multinationals, as well as the national capitalists, have been establishing their companies and factories in Malaysia to enlarge their profits. They do not care whether they employ local or foreign workers, as long as they can suck out the labour of workers to maximize their profits. Only workers can lend support to other workers for a common class struggle to liberate themselves from the viciousness of capitalism. An effort to build fighting trade unions, as well as a mass workers' party, is crucial towards achieving a society based on needs and genuine democracy without exploitation that is a socialist society.- libcom.org

On the Move: Migrant Workers Oganizing in Asia - Pranjal Tiwari

On the Move: Migrant Workers Oganizing in Asia

Published on: October 01, 2009

In December 2008, security guards opened fire on a crowd of migrant workers from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The workers, employed in Iraq by a subcontractor of Kellogg Brown and Root, were held in makeshift camps awaiting deportation after arriving in the country to find the jobs they had been promised had disappeared. The frustration caused by the dirty, cramped conditions, the debts incurred in the migration process, and their impending deportation had obviously become too much for them to bear. Though no one was injured in the shooting, the workers were left with their livelihoods and their hopes for better future in tatters. “We have been turned into beggars,” one of the workers from Sri Lanka told a reporter.

Were they to have started their jobs in Iraq, however, their lot may not have been much better. Many reports of migrant workers from India facing exploitation and racist violence while working for US subcontractors or at US military bases in Iraq came to light in 2004, and continue to surface today. When asked about his situation, one worker from India employed by a subcontractor at a US base told a reporter: “We are being treated worse than animals."

The situation in Iraq has often been described as a microcosm of the world at large—a place where, under the US occupation, the hand-in-hand workings of militarism, imperialism, and capitalism have been all too evident. For the migrant workers who have described their position in Iraq as that of “beggars,” “animals,” and even “slaves” under a racially stratified economic system, this idea unfortunately holds all too true—as is clear from the many reports released by international rights groups, local unions, NGOs, and research bodies on the myriad injustices faced by migrant workers.

Asia is the site of some of the largest migration flows in human history. According to the International Labour Organization in 2005, there were about 35 million migrants from China, 20 million from India, and 7 million from the Philippines working around the world. According to the Migrant Forum in Asia, there were around 25 million migrant workers employed within Asia as of 2005, and more than 90 percent of the documented migrants from the Philippines employed in other parts of Asia were women.

Given the staggering numbers of people on the move, there are also of course huge amounts of money involved. Economists estimate that in 2008, remittances (the money sent home by workers abroad) accounted for 20 percent of the GDP of Nepal, 12 percent of the GDP of the Philippines, and 11 percent of Bangladesh's GDP. The World Bank expects the total amount of money sent home by migrant workers globally to amount to $290 billion in 2009. It is perhaps small wonder that global capitalist institutions increasingly seek to be involved in migration and its “management and control.” Migration in itself is a major industry in the region and in the world.

The idea of migration as an industry helps to expose the structural nature of the problems faced by migrant workers in their everyday lives. A major study released in Hong Kong in 2005, for example, found that the underpayment of individual Indonesian migrant domestic workers was not an aberration by a few “bad apples,” but the expected outcome produced by institutions involved in the migration process. The role of recruitment agencies, governments, and employers meant that the abuses and exploitation faced by migrant workers were at the heart systemic problems, with deep institutional roots.

The immense challenge of facing up to these institutions is the backdrop for the arduous but deeply human struggle of people around the world—as workers, migrants, and as women—against their exploitation and for the simple right to life and livelihood.

The writers involved in the following section of Left Turn are themselves very experienced and familiar with these issues, and though one section in one issue of one magazine can only provide the briefest of introductions to the vast concerns involved, we are excited to make such links with activists working in Asia. We will certainly continue to develop these connections and run more features about migrant workers' issues in Asia in future editions of Left Turn.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

90 Groups Now -JVC Unjustly Discriminates Against Burmese Migrant Women Workers Who Claim Worker Rights

Media Statement – 21/10/2010 (90)

JVC Unjustly Discriminates Against Burmese Migrant

Women Workers Who Claim Worker Rights

We, the undersigned 79 civil society organizations and groups, would like to express our serious concern that JVC has indicated that they will not re-new the employment contracts of Pa Pa Aye and 15 other Burmese women migrant workers, who lodged a claim at the Labour Department claiming worker rights that the JVC company had violated, amongst them the wrongful deduction of their wages to recover levy that employers have to pay when they employ foreign workers. The other 7 workers, who complained, whose contract was renewed in August, will also be terminated and repatriated. The information contained in this statement has been provided by the affected workers.

JVC has its factory at Lot. No.1, Persiaran Jubli Perak, Jalan 22/1, Section 22, Shah Alam, 40702 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, and they manufactures cameras, video cameras and audio equipment components, amongst others.

On 21/7/2010, Pa Pa Aye and 22 other women migrant workers lodged a complaint at the Subang Jaya Labour Office in Malaysia. Amongst their demands were for the return of monies wrongly deducted from their wages for levy the employer had to pay to the Malaysian government for employing migrant workers, other unlawful deductions like transfer fees, saving funds, etc amounting to about RM3,500-00, and for the return of the Passports which are still wrongly being held by the employer . They were also claiming for the balance of the wages that they were entitled. According to the workers, the employer was to pay them much more about RM50 per day but they were only paid the sum of RM23.

On 6/8/2010, after night shift when the women workers were being transported back to their homes, their bus took a different route, and suddenly stopped where the agent was waiting. The agent then called one of the Burmese women migrant workers who had complaint to the Labour Department and asked her to leave the bus and follow him. The workers suspected that the agent was trying to get the worker sent back to Burma, and they stood together and prevented the agent from taking the worker. The workers then lodged a police report about this incident. There have also been other cases of harassment, whereby in one incident 3 men entered the women’s hostel and threatened them.

The workers, through their representatives, which included an officer from the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) also complained about this incident to JVC, and JVC gave the assurance that this will not happen again and they guaranteed that all workers could continue to work in JVC.

On 12/8/2010, the agent tried to force the workers to sign a new contract, but all workers refused to sign it. The pressure on the workers to sign the new contract took place at the factory compound. Later on the same day the JVC’s Human Resource Manager, one Mr. Mazlan, and the HR Assistant Manager, one Ms. Ida, also tried to pressure the workers to sign the new contracts. The new contract was written in English only (just like their old contract). The workers to date do not have a copy of their old contract, as they were never given a copy. The new contract allegedly stated that their daily salary will be reduced to RM21, which is RM2 less than what the workers have been getting until now.

On 25/8/2010, the Burmese workers informed us that JVC had summarily dismissed 30 Sri Lanka women migrant workers in retaliation for their demand that JVC pay them their promised monthly salary of RM750. After the dismissal JVC and the agent, Fast Link Trans, began forceful repatriation of the workers. On 28/8/2010, 8 Sri Lankan workers were allegedly sent home. These workers apparently never received the amount owing them and/or any compensation for premature termination of their contract.

On 8/9/2010, JVC’s Human Resources Officer, in the presence of the Labour Officer and the agent’s representative from a company known as Fast Link Trans, tried to return to the Burmese workers the amount they said was the levy that had been wrongfully deducted from the wages and asked the workers to sign a document which was in English. The workers refused as the amount offered was far less than the sum deducted, and they did not want to sign any document which was in a language they did not know.

The company also refused to give a copy of the document to enable them to get an independent person who spoke Burmese to translate its contents to them.

On 28/9/2010, the agent informed the workers that when their current annual contract expires, their contracts will not be renewed and they will all be sent back to Burma. The contracts of 15 of these workers’ contract will expire in October, and the rest by the end of the year. Pa Pa Aye’s own contract expires in early November. The contracts of 7 others which expired in August have already been renewed. Later, on about 7/10/2010, the agent informed the workers that all 23 of them will be terminated and sent back to Burma. The process of forced repatriation of the Burmese workers has already begun with one worker being sent back to Burma on 9/10/2010.

It must be stated that according to the workers, when they came to Malaysia to work with JVC the agreement was that they will be employed for a period of at least 3 years, but when they arrived and started working, they were made to sign 1-year contracts with the verbal assurance that it will be renewed every year for at least a total of 3 years. The threat of early termination and deportation is also wrong and discriminatory as JVC has continued to renew contracts of others who had started work around the same time as these Burmese migrant workers.

Any early termination, and/or non renewal of the 1-year employment contracts by JVC can reasonably be seen as a retaliation of the company against workers who have elected to claim their rights as workers. Their case at the Labour Department is pending, and a termination and repatriation back to Burma will mean that the workers will not be able to continue to pursue their claim in the Labour Department/Court as the presence of the worker in the hearing of their claims against the employer is compulsory, and their absence will mean that their case will just be struck off,

We, the undersigned groups, call upon JVC to respect worker rights and their right to access to justice and not cause these 23 Burmese workers to be terminated and deported.

We urge that JVC to respect the law and the legal process initiated by the lodging of the complaint by the workers at the Labour Department, and to respect and abide with the outcome of the hearing at the Labour Court. Workers should not be terminated and/or discriminated against by reason of the fact that they choose to demand for their rights or better rights as workers. For those who have already been repatriated back to their country of origin, including those workers from Sri Lanka, JVC must compensate them for their expenses in coming to Malaysia to work, and for the early termination of their employment.

We call on JVC to act justly and not to terminate these workers, and to renew their contract so that they can pursue their claims until completion. JVC should also adhere to their earlier promise that these workers will be employed for a period of at least 3 years, for migrant workers do expend a lot of money (850-1,000 USD) when they do come to Malaysia to work and any early termination and breach of rights will only leave these workers in a worse situation as they may not be even to settle the debts they incurred in coming here to Malaysia to work.

We call on Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) to inquire into this complaint concerning the violation of worker rights by JVC.

We also call on the Malaysian government and the Human Resource Minister to ensure that no workers are terminated and/or discriminated against by reason of the fact that they have stood up to claim their rights as workers.

The Malaysian government should also ensure that no migrant worker is terminated and/or repatriated back to their country of origins until the employer has fully settled all outstanding worker claims and/or payments. If migrant workers are terminated, the Malaysian government must ensure that these workers are allowed to stay and work legally in Malaysia until all outstanding claims and legal processes are settled. If special passes and visas are required to ensure workers ability to stay and work legally, it must be given gratis without requiring the workers to pay anything. Worker cases must be expedited, and independent translators should be available at all Labour Departments and courts.

Labour rights must take precedent over immigration law. Do not deport until worker claims are determined and settled by Labour Department and/or courts.

Charles Hector

Pranom Somwong

For and on behalf of the following 90 organizations

ALIRAN,

Asia Pacific Forum on Women ,Law and Development ( APWLD)

Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)

Asian Migrants Center (AMC)

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights

Bangladesh Burma Border

BAYAN USA

BUGKOS

Building and Wood Workers International Asia Pacific Regional Office

Burma Campaign, Malaysia

Burmese Women's Union (BWU)

Coalition To Abolish Modern-Day Slavery In Asia

Committee for Asian Women (CAW)

Communication Workers Union P&T Branch Victoria

Community Development Services (CDS), Sri Lanka

Coordination of Action Research on AIDS & Mobility (CARAM-ASIA)

Cordillera Alliance Hong Kong

Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS), Burma

FICAP – Aichi

Filipino Migrants Center – FMC

Filipino Migrant Workers Union Chapter Rd Chapter

Forum for Democracy in Burma

GABRIELA – Japan

Gabriela-Taiwan

Grassroots Human Rights Education & Development (GHRE-FED), Thailand

HOME, Singapore

Human Rights Education Institute of Burma

IHI Action Group (Iwi Have Influence), New Zealand

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

Institute for National and Democracy Studies (INDIES)

Kachin Women's Association, Thailand

KAFIN – Nagoya

KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section

Lawyers for Human Rights & Legal Aid (LHRLA), Pakistan

League of Filipino Seniors (LFS)

Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW), Cambodia

MADPET - Malaysians against Death Penalty and Torture

Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)

MAP Foundation, Thailand

May 1st Coalition, Co-Coordinator, USA

Mekong Migration Network ( MMN)

Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand

Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)

Migramte Australia

Migrante-Denmark chapter

MIGRANTE Europe (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

Migranteng Ilonggo sa Taiwan

Migrante International

Migrante international - Hsinchuang chapter

Migrante International - Taiwan chapter

Migrante Melbourne

Migrante-Middle East and Migrante-Saudi Arabia chapter

MIGRANTE – Nagoya

Migrants Trade Union (MTU), Korea

Migrant Workers Network – New Zealand

National League for Democracy [NLD (LA)], Malaysia

Nepal Institute of Development Studies( NIDS) ,NEPAL

Network for Empowerment of Women in Vietnam

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)

Penggerak Belia Zon 23 MPSJ, Malaysia

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

Persatuan Penduduk Taman Muhibbah, Malaysia

Persatuan Prihatin Komuniti KL & Selangor

Philippine Society in Japan – Nagoya

PINATUD A SALENG TI UMILI

PINAY (Montreal)

POURAKHI, Nepal

Pusat Komas, Malaysia

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, Malaysia

Rights Jessore, India

Shan Refugee Organization (Malaysia)

Shan Women Action Network (SWAN), Thailand

St. John's Cathedral HIV Education Centre, Hong Kong

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

Tenaganita, Malaysia

The Communications Union (CEPU), Victoria Branch

The Development Action for Women Network (DAWN), Philippines

The Federation of Trade Unions Burma (FTUB)

The Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec

The National Human Rights Society (Persatuan Kebangsaan Hak Asasi Manusia, HAKAM), Malaysia

The Shwe Gas Movement

Unite Union New Zealand

Women Empowerment Association

Women Petition Committee

Workers Hub for Change (WH4C)

Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association ( YCOWA)

Yayasan Annisa Swasti (YASANTI), Indonesia