WORKERS HUB 4 CHANGE: 84 NGOs : Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd must respect Human Rights and Worker Rights Reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San Without Loss of Benefits

Media Statement - 11/2/2011 (84)

Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd must respect Human Rights and Worker Rights

Reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San Without Loss of Benefits

We, the undersigned 84 organizations, groups and networks are shocked at how Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd has unjustly treated its workers, in particular the 31 Burmese Migrant Workers, working at the factory at Lot 3377, Jalan Perusahaan Utama, Taman Industri Selesa Jaya, 43300 Balakong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

On or about 31/1/2011, 31 Burmese migrant workers complained about non-compliance by the employer with their agreement. The workers alleged that the employer was paying them far less than what was promised. They also expressed disappointment in the wrongful deductions from their wages, which included deduction for hostel charges when the agreement was that the employer shall provide free accommodation. They also raised their disagreement with the deduction of RM50-00 for every day that a worker does not come to work, when the daily rate of pay is only RM20. They also wanted paid medical leave, which really is already a legal right in Malaysia.

In response, the workers informed us that on 7/2/2011 a gang of persons came and threatened them at their hostel. The police allegedly came with these persons. Before they left, these persons took all cooking utensils and materials, television, cooking gas, refrigerator, table fan and rice cooker) used by the workers. They switched off the electric main switch, and left the workers in the dark with no electricity. These persons reasonably can be assumed to be workers/agents of the employer.

Two workers, without their consent, were allegedly taken to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) with the impression that the employer will be sending them back to Burma (Myanmar). Fortunately, the said 2 workers managed to escape and run away.

On 8/2/2011, the workers lodged a complaint with the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) and also were preparing the formal paperwork required to lodge a complaint with the Labour Department.

On 9/2/2011, the employer had a meeting with the said 31 workers, whereby they proposed:-

a) an increase the salary to RM23 per day (whereby previously it was RM20),

b) that there will be no more allowances (previously RM2/day was paid as shift allowance and RM30 as monthly allowance)

c) that if worker is absent for 2 days in one month, they will deduct RM-50 (previously for ever day absent, the employer deducted RM50)

d) Hostel Charges shall be reduced to RM30 per month (previously it was RM50 per month)

The employer then gave the workers an ultimatum that they sign the new contract now, or be terminated and sent back to Burma immediately. The workers were not given any opportunity or time to consider the proposal, or to discuss the matter further.

Finally, all workers save 2, cowed under pressure and signed the new contract. The 2 workers who did not sign are Thiha Soe (PP No: A 458011) and Aung San (PP No: A432863), whereby Aung San was the worker who signed the complaint for and on behalf of all the workers when the complaint was lodged at the Human Rights Commission on 8/2/2011.

Thiha Soe and Aung San were then handed over by the employer to the recruitment agent, possibly to send them back to Burma. Both workers have been separated and taken to different undisclosed location. Both workers do not want to be sent back to Burma, and want to continue working at Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd factory in Balakong.

Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Asahi Kosei Japan Co. Ltd., which makes Die-Cast Aluminium Parts for HDD(Computer Parts), VTR, And Automotive parts for, amongst others, Hitachi Ltd Automotive Systems, Hitachi Seisakusho, Denso(Toyota), Kawasaki Heavy Industry, Hitachi(Thai), Modenas , Seiko Instrument, Hitachi Global Storage, Matsushita Kotobuki, Matsushita Electronics, Toshiba, Maxtor, Seiko Epson, Kanematsu Device, Sony, Hitachi, Matsushita, JVC, Mitsubishi Electric, Philips, Sharp, Sanyo, Toshiba, Thomson, Yaskawa and Hitachi Mexico. It is sad that some companies with declared code of conducts and standards are seen to be associated with companies that violate worker and human rights.

We the undersigned 84 organizations, groups and networks

a) Call for Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd to immediately reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San without any loss of benefits, and if they have already been sent back to Burma to cause that they be brought back to Malaysia to work;

b) Call for Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd to apologize to its workers for the wrongs it did, and to pay fair compensation/damages for their actions/omissions that violated rights of their workers;

c) Call for Malaysian government and/or the relevant Ministries/Department to take necessary action against Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd and the said recruiting agent concerned to ensure that justice is done for the workers;

d) Call on the Malaysian government to legislate and make actions of preventing workers access to justice an offence with a substantial penalty, that will deter employers resorting to termination and/or deportation as a threat and/or means to avoid legitimate claims by their workers;

e) Call on Local Councils and State authorities, who do issue permits and allow factories to operate within their jurisdiction, to ensure that such factories do not violate human rights and worker rights. Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd operates in the state of Selangor;

e) Call on the Malaysian government to ensure that no migrant worker is sent back to their country of origin before first verifying that all outstanding and/or potential claims and disputes between worker and employer (and/or agent or other relevant party) in Malaysia have been fully and finally settled.

f) Call on Hitachi, Sony, Philips and other companies who do have a Code of Conduct and/or who proclaim that they hold human rights and worker rights as important, who have been listed as customers of Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd and/or Asahi Kosei Japan Co. Ltd to seriously re-evaluate their relationship with such companies that clearly do not respect human rights and worker rights.

g) Call on consumers and/or investors to take into consideration human rights, including worker rights of companies and their supply chain when they do invest and/or purchase their consumer products.

Charles Hector

Pranom Somwong

Ko Tun Tun

For and on behalf of the following 84 organizations

Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society - Hong Kong (ATIS-HK)

Abra Migrant Workers Welfare Association (AMWWA)

ALIRAN, Malaysia

All Burma Students League

APFS Labor Union, Japan

Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM), Hong Kong

Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center (AJWRC)

Association of Concerned Filipinos in Hong Kong (ACFIL-HK)

Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Hong Kong

Asia Pacific Students and Youth Association (ASA)

BAYAN Hong Kong

BAYAN USA

Campagne Vêtements Propres, Belgium

Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns, Canada

Cordillera Alliance in Hong Kong (CORALL-HK)

Building and Wood Workers International (BWI)

Burma Campaign Malaysia

Burma Partnership

Centre Communautaire des Femmes Sud-Asiatique, Montréal, Canada

Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns, Canada

Cuyapo Association Hong Kong

Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS), Burma

Empower, Thailand

FICAP-Aichi

Filipino Friends in Hong Kong

Filipino Migrants Association (FMA)

Filipino Migrant Center (FMC) in USA

Filipino Migrant Workers' Union - Hong Kong (FMWU)

Filipino Women Migrant Workers Association (FILWOM)

Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec, Canada

Free Burma Coalition, Philippines

Friends of Bethune House (FBH), Hong Kong

GABRIELA Hong Kong

GABRIELA-Japan

GABRIELA-Nagoya

Globalization Monitor (GM), Hong Kong

GoodElectronics Network

Health Equity Initiatives, Malaysia

HMISC (Hsinchu Catholic Diocee Migrants and Immigrants Service Center), Taiwan

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF)

Johor Texitle And Garments Workers Union

KAFIN-Nagoya

KAFTI (Japan)

Kilusang Mayo Uno, Philippines

Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW), Cambodia

LIKHA Filipino Migrant Cultural Organization

MADPET - Malaysians against Death Penalty and Torture

May 1st Coalition, USA

Migrante B.C. (Canada)

Migrant Care, Indonesia

MIGRANTE Europe, Netherlands

Migrante International

MIGRANTE-Japan

Migrante - Middle East

MIGRANTE-Nagoya

MIGRANTE Sectoral Party - Hong Kong

Mission Volunteers (MOVERS)

National Human Rights Society (HAKAM), Malaysia

National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers(NUTEAIW)

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

ＮＧＯ Jinken, Seigi to Heiwa Rentai Forum Fukuoka (NGO Solidarity Forum for Human Rights, Justice and Peace in Fukuoka)

Pangasinan Organization for Welfare, Empowerment and Rights (POWER)

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)

PHASE TWO (People for Health and Safety in Electronics), Scotland

Philippine Society in Japan

Pinatud a Saleng ti Umili (PSU)

Project Maje ,Portland, Oregon USA

Pusat Komas

Quê Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam, France

Rage & Football Collective, Japan

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Malaysia

Thai Committee for Refugees (TCR)

Think Centre, Singapore

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), Singapore

United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)

United Indonesians Against Overcharging, Hong Kong

Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, France

WARBE Development Foundation, Bangladesh

Workers Assistance Center, Philippines

Workers Hub For Change (WH4C)

World Forum for Democratization in Asia

Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association (YCOWA), Thailand

* After the 1^st issue on 11/2/2011, more groups have endorsed it.

WORKERS HUB 4 CHANGE

Thursday, February 17, 2011

84 NGOs : Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd must respect Human Rights and Worker Rights Reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San Without Loss of Benefits

Media Statement - 11/2/2011 (84)

Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd must respect Human Rights and Worker Rights

Reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San Without Loss of Benefits

We the undersigned 84 organizations, groups and networks

a) Call for Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd to immediately reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San without any loss of benefits, and if they have already been sent back to Burma to cause that they be brought back to Malaysia to work;

b) Call for Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd to apologize to its workers for the wrongs it did, and to pay fair compensation/damages for their actions/omissions that violated rights of their workers;

c) Call for Malaysian government and/or the relevant Ministries/Department to take necessary action against Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd and the said recruiting agent concerned to ensure that justice is done for the workers;

d) Call on the Malaysian government to legislate and make actions of preventing workers access to justice an offence with a substantial penalty, that will deter employers resorting to termination and/or deportation as a threat and/or means to avoid legitimate claims by their workers;

e) Call on Local Councils and State authorities, who do issue permits and allow factories to operate within their jurisdiction, to ensure that such factories do not violate human rights and worker rights. Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd operates in the state of Selangor;

g) Call on consumers and/or investors to take into consideration human rights, including worker rights of companies and their supply chain when they do invest and/or purchase their consumer products.

No comments:

Thursday, February 17, 2011

84 NGOs : Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd must respect Human Rights and Worker Rights Reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San Without Loss of Benefits

Media Statement - 11/2/2011 (84)

Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd must respect Human Rights and Worker Rights

Reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San Without Loss of Benefits

We the undersigned 84 organizations, groups and networks

a) Call for Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd to immediately reinstate Thiha Soe and Aung San without any loss of benefits, and if they have already been sent back to Burma to cause that they be brought back to Malaysia to work;

b) Call for Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd to apologize to its workers for the wrongs it did, and to pay fair compensation/damages for their actions/omissions that violated rights of their workers;

c) Call for Malaysian government and/or the relevant Ministries/Department to take necessary action against Asahi Kosei(M) Sdn Bhd and the said recruiting agent concerned to ensure that justice is done for the workers;

d) Call on the Malaysian government to legislate and make actions of preventing workers access to justice an offence with a substantial penalty, that will deter employers resorting to termination and/or deportation as a threat and/or means to avoid legitimate claims by their workers;

e) Call on Local Councils and State authorities, who do issue permits and allow factories to operate within their jurisdiction, to ensure that such factories do not violate human rights and worker rights. Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd operates in the state of Selangor;

g) Call on consumers and/or investors to take into consideration human rights, including worker rights of companies and their supply chain when they do invest and/or purchase their consumer products.

No comments:

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