2 more Burmese migrants in detention have died of disease - Hyginic Conditions & Immediate Healthcare may have prevented these deaths

Well, we have been informed that 2 more Burmese migrants in detention have died of disease. But what disease? Was it again Leptospirosis.

One of the deceased was allegedly Aung Myo Lwin [Camp Body Number: 22157]., who died on 22/10/2009. Hospital did not say what disease he died from. He was buried on 29/10/2009.

The other deceased was allegedly buried on 28/10/2009.

The 2 detainees was allegedly from the Lengeng Detention Centre, and they were taken to the Seremban Hospital where they died.

Remember that 6 other Burmese recently died of Leptospirosis at the KLIA Depot Detention Centre. This was an AFP Report, which was reported in the Singapore Straits Times. See Joint Statement dated 25/9/2009 in earlier post,LEPTOSPIROSIS CAUSES DEATH OF ANOTHER 6 BURMESE IN DETENTION IN MALAYSIA DENIAL OF HEALTHCARE IS A VIOLATION OF RIGHT TO LIFE

Recall also that 2 other Burmese detainees died of Leptospirosis at the Juru Detention Centre. See Joint Statement dated 23/5/2009 , 126 groups:- Death of 2 Burmese Indicative of State of Detention Places in Malaysia - Denial of Healthcare Is a Violation of Right to Life

We have a right to be informed of disease outbreaks and deaths in places of detention in Malaysia.

There is a need for permanent clinics manned by at least one doctor to be set up at all places of detention. There must be immediate access to heathcare, and continuous monitoring by the public health authority to ensure people in detention do not die by diseases, that most likely may have been avoided by ensuring cleanliness and adequate healthcare.

Employers should not be allowed to deduct worker wages to recover levy employers were required to pay

Employers who want to employ foreign workers are required to pay a levy.According to the Malaysian government...

The rationale behind getting employers to bear the levy was to discourage them from employing foreigners.... - Bernama, - Star, 16/4/2009

But then the government gave special permission to some (not all) employers to deduct the wages of their migrant workers to recover the levy these employers paid to be allowed to employ the migrant worker. This was a great injustice.

If the government wanted to help some employers, then the government should have just not required these employers to pay the said levy. It is wrong to allow these employers to recover the monies expended by deducting worker's wages.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has called on the Labour Department to prosecute employers who continue to deduct levy from salaries of their foreign workers.

According to MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam hundreds of workers have been “cheated ” by errant employers who continue to deduct the levy from their salaries although they have renewed their work permits after April 1, the date from which the levy was to be entirely borne by employers.

Prior to this, employers were allowed to pay the levy up front and later make monthly deductions from their workers’ salaries.

Balasubramaniam said that last week, about 2,500 foreign workers at a glove-making factory in Klang staged a five hour “strike” in protest against the management’s deduction of the levy from their salaries.

Similar complaints were also received from various parts of the country, he said.

Labour Department director-general Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim, meanwhile, said that his department was continuing to be vigilant and was conducting checks on all establishments to ensure that there were no illegal levy deductions.

He said that employers were allowed to continue making deductions for workers who were employed prior to April 1, but this was only until the expiry of the work permits.

For all renewals and new employees after April 1, the employers should pay for the levy, he added.

He advised workers whose levy was still being deducted after the renewal of their permits to report the matter to the labour office.

The levy, paid annually, varies from sector to sector, with RM1,200 per foreign worker for the manufacturing and construction sectors, RM1,800 for restaurant and RM360 for maids. – Bernama - Star, 26/10/2009, Prosecute errant employers, urges MTUC