Expat Bangladeshis  in Malaysia seek wage, food

Around 126 Bangladeshi workers employed by Mentakab Veneer Plywood Sdn Bhd in Mentakab, Pahang, Malaysia, have reportedly been facing prolonged wage arrears, excessive working hours, food shortages and serious concerns over their safety, according to a complaint submitted to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

The complaint, submitted by Abdullah Al Mamun to the Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment on Thursday, representative of the Migrant Welfare Network (MWN), urged the government to take immediate steps to protect the workers and ensure their legal and humanitarian rights.

According to the complaint, the workers have allegedly not received wages for approximately three months. They have also reportedly been pressured to work beyond the hours stipulated in their employment contracts. The complaint further alleges that some workers holding valid visas or work permits were forcibly sent back to Bangladesh against their wishes.

The situation reportedly deteriorated further in recent days. The workers have allegedly been prohibited from going to work for about seven days, while the company is accused of stopping food supplies. As a result, the workers are reportedly facing an acute food shortage and humanitarian hardship.