Migrant workers being threaten to be sent back when questioning the employers’ action on them

MTUC wants government to handle the employment of foreign workers

February 19, 2013

 

SUBANG JAYA, Feb 19 – The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) wants the employment of foreign workers including maids to be done by the government to ensure the workers are well treated.

Its president Khalid Atan said their employment through agents and outsourcing agencies who acted as a middlemen should be stopped since it has been causing problems and also tarnishing the country’s image when the workers are not properly looked after.

“If employers wish to hire a foreign worker, they should go deal with the government. The middleman is taking profit on each person they bring in, some up to RM2,000 or more per person.

“But sometimes these workers rights are neglected, some even have their working permits terminated drastically causing them being caught or being charged for entering this country illegally,” he told in a press conference here, today.

Khalid also said that some of the foreign workers are not paid for the work they do, or being forced to work for long hours – usually for 14 to 16 hours per day – or being threaten to be sent back when questioning the employers’ action on them.

On the levy issue, Khalid said MTUC was firm by its stand that foreign workers should not be burdened by the levy, transportation and accommodation fees.

“The employers should pay for it. The payment is to be made by the foreign workers with the enforcement of the RM900 minimum salary. But if the workers have to deduct RM150 for levy and another RM200 (transportation and accommodation) how much will be left for them?” he asked.

On Jan 30, the Cabinet decided that foreign workers should pay the levy amounting between RM34.15 and RM154.16 per month instead of the employers.  – Bernama - Malaysian Insider, 19/2/2013, MTUC wants government to handle the employment of foreign workers

see also:- 

82 Groups - MINIMUM WAGES FOR ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MIGRANT WORKERS - No to Wage Deduction to recover Levy Payable By Employers -

Migrant Worker Plight in Malaysia Highlighted by MTUC

Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC) held a press conference led by Bro. Mohd Khalid Atan President MTUC this morning at 11am at the MTUC headquarters on the following:


ISSUES: 

MTUC to raise issues concerning the rights and legal protection available to foreign workers while working in Malaysia and the government’s seriousness in managing employment related problems to the Minister of Human Resources and other government agencies.

Currently MTUC received complaints from more than 30 workers formerly working for an out sourcing company and not paid since December 2012. MTUC want the Ministry of Human Resources to intervene in this matter and take serious action against any person or company that’s responsible for such inhumane treatment and labour exploitation. Currently the workers are having serious problem, even to have decent meal without being paid for more than two months. 

Other issues concerning problems daily faced by foreign workers in Malaysia

·         Problems related to the implementation of Minimum Wage since January 2013;

·         Issues on non-compliance of the employment Act 1955;

·         Work related injuries higher among foreign workers and not captured by DOSH;

·         Premature termination of employment and weaknesses in the Law;

·         Compulsory decent accommodation for them not covered by any law;

·         Enforcement by Labour inspectors very weak / not effective;

·         Access to justice by foreign workers is very rare due to intimidation and threat by supervisors at work place is very common in Malaysia according to foreign workers seeking legal remedy is difficult because its expensive and restrictions in the Law.

·         Employers can terminate foreign workers contract at any point and send them back by just cancelling their work permit and the case is closed there.

Our country image globally will be affected if the government is not serious in handling the situation now by coming up with a comprehensive policy or Law to protect foreign workers by providing them with equal rights with that of local workers.

Thanks and regards.

Parimala N., Project Officer
MTUC Mobilising Action for the Protection
of Migrant Domestic Workers Project

Malaysiakini covered this press conference, and the report in Bahasa Malaysia is as follows:-

Hak Pekerja asing dilemma

Mohd Khalid Atan, Presiden MTUC bersama-sama Pekerja-pekerja Nepali

Seramai 33 pekerja Nepal telah ditamatkan kerja tanpa sebarang pampasan oleh syarikat elektronik  yang berlokasi di Shah Alam.  Pekerja-pekerja ini juga tidak dibayar gaji sejak Disember 2012. Dalam pada meminta bantuan MTUC, kesemua pekerja-pekerja ini telah berhimpun di MTUC Subang Jaya dalam persidangan media yang diadakan bagi meluahkan permasalahan mereka dan seterusnya menuntut keadilan kepada mereka.

Presiden MTUC, Mohd Khalid Atan dalam kenyataan menyatakan kekesalan terhadap apa yang telah berlaku dan menuntut supaya keadilan yang saksama diberikan kepada pekerja-pekerja. Kata beliau semua pekerja tidak kira pekerja asing mahupun tempatan mempunyai hak yang sama iaitu “Universal right”, malah mereka mempunyai hak yang sama mengikut undang-undang serta perjanjian bersama(collective agreement). Mereka tidak boleh diperlakukan seperti ini, katanya.

Majikan pekerja-pekerja ini Ontime Performance Sdn Bhd yang berlokasi  di Wangsa Setia Kuala Lumpur (sebuah syarikat outsourcing)telah menyumber keluar pekerja-pekerja Nepali  kepada syarikat Vista Point Technologies Sdn Bhd (Flextronics) di Shah Alam telah meberi notis pemberhentian kepada pekerja-pekerja ini pada 27 December 2012 kata Moses Singam,Penyelia Projek Pekerja Asing MTUC.

Pekerja-pekerja ini dengan bantuan MTUC telah mengfailkan kes di perhubungan Perusahaan Shah Alam pada 18hb Februari 2013  atas pertikaian tidak dibayar gaji dan dihentikan kerja tanpa alasan yang munasabah malah telah membuat laporan polis pada 1hb Februari 2013. Kini pekerja-pekerja ini telah dihalau dari hostel.

Tanya Khalid Atan, ke mana mereka hendak pergi dan makan apa, sekiranya gaji tidak dibayar? malah katanya kini majikan mengarah pekerja-pekerja ini pulang ke negara asal dengan kosnya dibiayai oleh pekerja-pekerja itu sendiri, adakah ini mustahil, tambah beliau.

Pekerja-pekerja ini hanya dibayar RM546 sebulan dan kini gaji tersebut telah ditahan sejak 2 bulan. Khalid berpendirian bahawa gaji minima harus diberikan kepada pekerja asing tanpa melakukan sebarang potongan elaun katanya.

 

Mengikut Moses Singam, majikan harus memberi slip gaji mereka dan menyatakan dengan jelas jenis pemotongan yang dilakukan, kerana pekerja-pekerja ini tidak mengetahui langsung kenapa majikan melakukan pelbagai pemotongan tanpa dimaklumkan dan MTUC menghadapi kesukaran menuntut keadilan kerana tiada bukti yang sah untuk ditunjukkan pada pihak tertentu apabila ingin menuntut keadilan dari majikan yang tidak bertanggungjawab ini, katanya.

Sehabis persidangan media pekerja-pekerja Nepali ini enggan pulang ke tempat kediaman kerana tiada wang untuk memberi makanan, tiada kerja dan telah dihalau dari tempat kediaman, kata Thevendran, 25 tahun.

- Malaysiakini, Citizen Journalist Malaysia(CJMY), 19/2/2013, Hak Pekerja asing dilemma

Foreign workers to bear cost with minimum wage policy in place (Star, 31/1/2013)

Thursday January 31, 2013

Foreign workers to bear cost with minimum wage policy in place

By LEE YEN MUN, PATRICK LEE and P. ARUNA
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

 

 

PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has agreed to reinstate a 1992 ruling putting the burden of levy on foreign workers instead of their employers.

The decision is to be enforced with immediate effect on new foreign workers and those wishing to renew their work pass, employment pass (pas panggajian), or temporary work visit pass.

The move is to reduce the hiring cost for employers, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

“The minimum wage, which came into force this year, has raised the salary for all workers on an average of between 30% and 50%, or from RM600-RM700 to RM900 a month.

“With its implementation, all workers, including foreigners, will get other benefits such as a higher amount of overtime pay, taking the overall income average to between RM1,200 and RM1,500 a month.

“The move to impose the levy on foreign workers will not be a burden to them as the levy paid is between RM34.16 and RM154.16 per month, compared with a general increase in salary of between RM300 and RM500 per month,” Ahmad Husni said in a statement yesterday.

The collection of levy for foreign workers was introduced in 1992 and was fully borne by the workers until 2009 when the Government decided to shift the burden to the employers.

The 2009 decision was to control a ballooning population of foreign workers in the country at the time.

Ahmad Husni said the Government had taken measures to tackle the problem through the 6P programme, which has led to a “more organised” management of foreign workers.

Employers have welcomed the move, saying the burden of paying levy should rest with the employees.

Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said: “Levy is a form of tax imposed on individuals for using public facilities paid for by the taxpayers.

“The move will not only help employers but also assist the country in reducing the outflow of money, which can be used for development.

“The levy comes up to about RM2.1bil every year and when employers need not bear the cost anymore, it will translate into greater profits for employers.

“With greater profits come greater taxes.”

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress said it objected to the move.

Its secretary-general Abdul Halim Mansor said MTUC was “greatly disappointed” that it was not consulted on the decision.

“This is a form of continued discrimination against foreign workers as the move serves only to reduce the burden of the employers.

“If the Government wants to reverse the (responsibility of paying) levy, they should take other measures to increase social security for foreign workers, such as making it compulsory for employers to make EPF (Employees Provident Fund) or Socso (Social Security Organisation) contributions for them,” Abdul Halim said.

Though welcoming the levy move, some local businesses such as KK Mart Group of Companies said it was only a “drop in the bucket”.

“We still have to pay for our foreign workers' accommodation, transport and food allowance.

“Are the workers going to absorb this as well?” its chairman Datuk Dr Douglas Chai asked.

He said his KK Mart franchise used to pay each foreign worker RM900 a month for 12-hour shifts.

With the minimum wage in place, each worker would have to be paid some RM1,406 a month.

With over 500 foreigners working for the group, this would come up to an additional RM250,000 a month.

Small business owners such as Margaret Chong, 55, who runs a laundry in Section 17 said that she did not want her workers paying the levy.

“I will pay. I want my workers to have peace of mind,” she said.

Ubiquitous migrants in KL (The Sundaily, 14/2/2013)

 

Ubiquitous migrants in KL

Posted on 14 February 2013 - 05:30am

Michelle Chun and Dorothy Cheng

Print

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KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 14, 2013): Like Malaysians, a majority of the 2.3 million registered foreign workers in the country are drawn to the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Hailing mainly from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Indonesia, many end up working and living in various hotspots in the capital.

Although some Malaysians have keenly accepted their presence and even stepped up to defend their rights, others view their presence as a menace, or even a threat, especially during public holidays when the city seems to be overrun by foreigners.

Upon visiting hotspots as well as tourist destinations to observe the changes foreign workers have brought, these reporters observed that several areas had become mini communities for them – a mishmash of various Asian cultures.

There are shops and services set up by migrants for migrants, such as the specialty restaurants commonly seen in places like Kota Raya and Chow Kit which are owned, staffed and patronised by foreigners.

Some enterprising ones have also monopolised services for their countrymen like getting work permits, flight tickets, jobs and even illegal trades like prostitution and gambling rings.

However, their presence has changed the city's bustling street markets from Chow Kit to Petaling Street.

Petaling Street, famous for its Chinese roots, have stalls manned by foreigners employed by local owners, changing the atmosphere and façade of the iconic street.

Checks with tourists garnered responses such as, "This isn't Chinatown, it's Southeast Asia Town," and "I don't see any Chinese here". Such observations stem from the fact that while foreign workers were easily visible at the front of the stalls, the local owners were sitting at the back.

It also cannot be denied that there is a strong communal environment in areas with a high population of foreign workers, so much so that locals could feel unwelcome.

However, it has been pointed out that safety issues do not stem solely from foreign workers and that in fact, many troublemakers are locals.

Malaysian Emergency Medical Services Association community services director, Doris Chen, said locals must be able to view the bigger picture and not develop ethnocentrism based solely on perception.

"For one, we rely on many of these people for the country to develop economically at its current pace, even if we don't realise it," she said.

Chen added that the general view is that foreigners took away jobs from locals but in reality, many locals do not want such menial jobs that pay minimum wages.

Anna, an advertising executive working in Masjid Jamek who declined to give her full name, said she feels unsafe on the streets when she sees a group of foreign workers.

"It could be perception, and I'm not against them coming here, but they should know their place as they are not at home any more," she said, echoing a sentiment many Malaysians share.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib has said that it is now a trend for Malaysians to seek the easy way out by hiring foreign workers.

"Foreigners either help man the stalls, or sometimes they even rent entire shops from locals," Ahmad Phesal said.

He added that the increasing presence of foreign workers is a sensitive issue as some find their presence advantageous while others see it as an "invasion", therefore authorities have to take into account both opinions when taking action.

Locals also feel these migrant workers will settle permanently in the country and cause overcrowding and cultural invasion.

However, Malaysian Karen Organisation joint secretary Saw Tin Aung dispelled this myth, claiming many foreign workers wish to return home to their families.

"Of course, they don't want to stay here. They miss their home, country, food and culture, and most importantly ... their families.

"Many just want to work and save up as much as they can to provide a more comfortable life for their families back home," he said.

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia coordinator Pranom Somwong said Malaysians should try to understand the reasons behind this mass migration.

"We need to look at the unique unequal distribution of opportunities and resources and how this is a major driver of the movement of people.

"The history of migration is the chronicle of peoples' struggle to survive and to prosper, to escape insecurity and poverty, and to move in response to opportunity, so migration will always happen," she said.

Pranom further said many countries, including Malaysia, practise segregation by "keeping migrants in selected areas, out of the mainstream society".

"As a migrant in an alien country, language and cultural differences are major barriers.

"Much of their frustration stems from Malaysia not having adequate rights for them, leaving them fearful of arrest, deportation, and abuse," she said. - The Sun Daily, 14/2/2013, Ubiquitous migrants in KL

500 foreign workers of Digital Furniture Sdn Bhd in Muar downed tools - minimum wage not paid

 

 

Strike fear hits employers of foreign workers

Posted on 13 February 2013 - 10:41pm
Last updated on 14 February 2013 - 09:22am

Kong See Hoh
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 13, 2013): Industry bosses are worried the strike by foreign workers at a furniture factory in Johor just before the festival shutdown may ignite similar action among foreigners and the local workforce.

A report in Oriental Daily News today said many employers believed the lack of a "black and white" from the government to specify the foreign workers levy should be fully borne by them was the reason why negotiations with these workers had failed.

Some 500 foreign workers of Digital Furniture Sdn Bhd in Muar downed tools a day before the Chinese New Year break when the management did not agree to demands to implement the RM900 minimum wage order immediately and agree to pay their levies.

It is learnt that a wave of strikes is waiting to hit industries containing a high percentage of foreign workers.

Small-Medium Industries (SMI) Association of Malaysia national president Teh Kee Sin said foreign workers planning to strike were sending text messages to their countrymen.

"The Muar incident has prompted workers from Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam and others to join hands in making demands," he said.

Teh warned Oriental Daily, of possible chaos next week when factories resume operations as any strike action will affect production.

He said employers are confused because while MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the minimum wage can include some allowances, labour law does not allow it. Unclear answers from the Human Resources Ministry is making matters worse.

"We need proof to negotiate with foreign workers. Now, we only know from media reports that the cabinet has decided the levy should be borne by the workers themselves.

SMI Association of Malaysia deputy president Michael Kang said employers also worry local workers may down tools.

He said many locals are not happy that the new policy meant a pay rise of about RM50 for them compared with the RM300-400 for foreign workers. They are also not happy that foreign workers, also enjoy housing and transport allowances and they want similar allowances.

Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan felt the government should get tough and repatriate foreign workers who strike. 

He said according to their employment agreement, foreign workers lose a day's pay for every day of their strike, and should the strike continue for more than two days or cause disturbances, they can be sent home immediately.- The Sundaily, 13/2/2013, Strike fear hits employers of foreign workers

Migrants, RM900 Minimum Wages YES but we will deduct levy RM150 plus monthly - Discrimination

Awkward U-turn on minimum wage

Posted on 6 February 2013 - 08:30pm

Himanshu Bhatt

Print

ON JAN 22, Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, in responding to calls by certain quarters for the government to introduce separate wage systems for locals and foreign workers, pointed out that Malaysia's labour laws must adhere to international labour standards. 

These would mean that our policies do not allow for discrimination of workers based on race, religion and citizenship. A two-tier wage system – with different schemes for locals and foreigners – would be counter-productive as it would induce employers to evade hiring Malaysians for cheaper foreign workers. 

However, just days after Subramaniam made the assertion, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek issued an ultimatum that jolted the picture. In effect, Chua expressed support for employers wanting foreign workers and locals to be differentiated. Specifically, they were planning to protest against the ministry for requiring them to pay for the foreign workers' levy. 

Claiming that MCA had received many complaints from employers, Chua warned: "If there is no decision after Chinese New Year, we (MCA) can no longer hold them back ... We will tell them, do what needs to be done."

The statement ignited a backlash from groups that have stood up for the rights of migrant workers. Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general Abdul Halim Mansor described MCA as acting as a "spokesman" for the wealthy and advocating the demands of industry bosses.

"Understandably Chua does not care for the needs of workers who slog daily for wages as low as RM500 a month," he said.

The policy and quantum for a minimum wage had been debated for over three years before a decision was made in March last year, and gazetted in July, Abdul Halim said. "Chua has just woken up from a long slumber to issue an ultimatum that the government U-turn on the minimum wage policy," he said.

Under the policy, the minimum wage is set at RM900 in the peninsula and RM800 in Sabah and Sarawak.

As events unfolded, on Jan 29, about 200 traders and small business owners claiming to represent 57 business associations, marched to the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya to submit a memorandum calling for foreign workers to be excluded from the minimum wage policy. They insisted that the policy was a "slap and a burden" to business owners.

The cabinet the very next day decided that foreign workers will have to bear the cost of their levy payment. It was, in effect, a U-turn.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah reasoned that the move was reverting to a 1992 policy, and argued that it would not be a burden to foreign workers as they would only need to pay between RM34.16 and RM154.16 a month, while enjoying a salary increase of between 30% and 50% to RM 900 a month, from the previous average of between RM600 and RM700.

But there is indignation and ire over this sudden about-turn that will not likely subside. The MTUC is submitting an official complaint to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), calling the reversal in policy "a great injustice" against migrant workers.

Some 67 trade unions and civil society groups in Asia have called on the government to rescind the decision, demanding that all discrimination against workers, based on their nationality, gender and duration of employment contract, be immediately stopped.

Irene Fernandez, executive director of migrant rights group Tenaganita, said the move effectively catapulted migrant workers as the highest taxpayers in terms of income and levy, despite them being allegedly deprived of "benefits" from the taxes.

"Assuming all migrants will earn the minimum wage of RM900, the levy deductions will range between 5% and 17% a month. On the other hand a Malaysian needs to pay taxes only when they earn more than RM3,000 per month," she said.

Tenaganita has pointed out that migrant workers have to pay exorbitant medical bills, their children cannot go to school; and they are also excluded from safety nets such as the Employees Provident Fund and the social security scheme.

All things considered, it is the question of how the government ended up making such a U-turn that will linger, helped in no small measure by Chua's ultimatum to the ministry – and the minister's own assurance that the country must abide by "international labour standards".

Himanshu is theSun's news editor. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com - The SunDaily, 6/2/2013, Awkward U-turn on minimum wage

It was 67 - now 75

75 Groups No to Wage Deduction to recover Levy Payable By Employers - MINIMUM WAGES FOR ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MIGRANT WORKERS

75 Groups No to Wage Deduction to recover Levy Payable By Employers - MINIMUM WAGES FOR ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MIGRANT WORKERS

Joint Statement- 5/2/2013 (now 75)

MINIMUM WAGES FOR ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MIGRANT WORKERS

- No to Wage Deduction to recover Levy Payable By Employers -

We, the undersigned 75 civil society organizations, trade unions and groups are shocked with the recent decision of the Malaysian cabinet on 30/1/2013 to allow employers of migrant workers to recover levy that they paid the government to employ foreign workers from migrant workers through wage deductions. 

According to the law, workers in Malaysia were to receive minimum wages of RM900[USD291](for Peninsular Malaysia) and RM800[USD259] (for Sabah and Sarawak) as of 1/1/2013. Khalid Atan, the President of the Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC) said, “…if workers were asked to pay the levy, the minimum wages policy would not benefit them at all, as whatever little increase in salary they enjoyed, would be wiped out with the levy payment…” [Star, 10/1/2013, MTUC: Don't give in to employers' demand on foreign workers levy]

Some employers have also been trying to avoid this obligation to pay minimum wages, which is basic wages not inclusive overtime, existing allowances and other benefits. Some do it by re-structuring worker remuneration by including all other allowances, incentives and benefits to make up the RM900, which is very wrong. Some employers are making employees to sign documents agreeing to these changes, whereby this is made easier when there are no worker unions. Workers generally have no avenue of complaint, or even choice in the matter especially when many now are employed based on short-term employment contract. A refusal by the worker means a non-renewal or no new employment contracts when their contracts expire.

To avoid paying workers minimum wages, the Malaysian government also allowed employers the right to apply for a delay in paying workers minimum wages, and vide Minimum Wages(Amendment) Order 2012 dated 28/12/2012, the government allowed more than 500 employers to delay paying workers minimum wages. What was blatantly wrong in this process was that the aggrieved workers and/or their unions were not given any right to be heard before the employer’s application to deny them their entitlement to minimum wages was approved.

The Malaysian government, in the past, on the application of certain employers, allowed them to make wage deductions and/or wage advances, contrary to the general provisions in law with the intention to allow employers to recover from migrant workers monies expended by employers to get migrant workers to Malaysia to work for them. This included sometimes not just a means to recover levy paid, but also all other costs incurred by employers to recruit and bring in migrant workers. Approvals were given by the government with no consultation or agreement of the worker or their unions. As of 1/4/2009, the Malaysian government stopped this practice, and made it clear that it is employers that have to pay the levy and they cannot recover the said sum from migrant workers.

Labour Director-General Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim was reported saying that, “…The rationale behind getting employers to bear the levy was to discourage them from employing foreigners…” [Star, 16/4/2009, Employers can deduct levy from wages, again]. As such, this current move to make migrant workers pay the levy removes the very intention of levy, i.e. to discourage employers from employing foreign workers.

The reason for the new decision ‘… is to alleviate the hiring cost for employers, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah...’ [Star, 30/1/2013, Cabinet: Foreign workers to pay levy instead of employers with immediate effect]. If the Malaysian government now wants to reduce the financial burden of employers who hire migrant workers, then rightfully the government should reduce or remove the levy – not shift the burden to workers.

Migrant workers sacrifice a lot when they elect to come to Malaysia to work. They have to leave behind the spouses, children, family and friends for Malaysian law allows them to only come alone and work in Malaysia, and they also are barred from falling in love and getting married during their employment period  which is usually for at least 5 years. They also end up incurring substantial debt when they come, for they have to pay, amongst others recruitment agents, most times these payments include both legal and ‘illegal’ payments. Whilst in Malaysia, they are bound to just one employer – having no right to change employers.

When they claim rights, even through existing legal avenues, they generally are terminated and their employment pass/permits are also cancelled depriving them the right to stay (or work) legally in Malaysia until their claims are resolved. The termination of these passes/permits is done by the Malaysian government irrespective of whether there are outstanding claims or pending cases concerning the said worker’s rights.

This precarious reality of migrant workers makes them vulnerable to exploitation by some employers, knowing that it is most easy to violate worker rights and then get off scot free. Until laws and policies are amended to protect migrant’s worker rights, naturally migrant workers become the preferred choice over local workers as they are certainly a more easily exploited class of workers.

We call on the Malaysian government to immediately rescind the decision made by the Malaysian cabinet on Wednesday(30/1/2013) to allow employers of migrant workers to recover the levy they pay the government by deduction of wages of migrant workers.

We take the position that all workers, including migrant workers, are entitled to receive minimum wages, whereby this is the basic wage and should not include allowances, benefits and other work incentives. Employers should not be permitted to remove pre-April 2012 worker entitlements and benefits, being the date the Minimum Wage Order 2012 came into force, from existing and subsequent employment contracts.

We call on the Malaysian government to end all forms of discrimination against workers, with regard to, amongst others, their nationality, gender, duration of their employment contracts.

Charles Hector

Pranom Somwong

Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud

For and on behalf the 75  groups listed:

ALIRAN

Angkatan Rakyat Muda Parti Rakyat Malaysia (ARM-PRM)

Asian Migrant Centre (AMC), Hong Kong 

Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) Hong Kong

Asia Monitor Resource Centre, Hong Kong

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

Asia Pacific Mission For Migrants (APMM ), Hong Kong

Association of Indonesian Migrant Worker in Hong Kong (ATKI-HK)

Bangladeshi Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA)

Burma Campaign Malaysia

BWI (Building and Wood Worker's International)

CAW (Committee for Asian Women)

Centre for Human Rights and Development-Sri Lanka

Center for Orang  Asli Concerns (COAC), Malaysia

CEREAL - Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral – Guadalajara, Mexico

Clean Clothes Campaign( CCC )

Community Action Network (CAN), Malaysia

Community Development Services, Sri Lanka

COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations), India

Electronic Industry Employees Union Western Region (EIEUWR), Malaysia

Far East Overseas Nepalese Association (FEONA), Hong Kong

Filipino Migrant Workers Union (FMWU)

GoodElectronics Network

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

International Domestic Workers Network

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd.

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja MHS Aviation Berhad

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan (EIEUSR), Malaysia

LSCW (Legal Support for Children and Women), Cambodia

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)

MAP Foundation, Thailand

Migrant Domestic Workers Trust, India

Migrant Forum, India

Migrant Health Association in Korea

MIGRANTE International

Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. (MMCEAI)

Mission For Migrant Workers - Hong Kong

MTUC (Malaysian Trade Union Congress)

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)

National Domestic Workers Movement, India

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

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

NLD-LA (National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas), Malaysia

NUBE (National Union of Banking Employees), Malaysia

OKUP (Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program) in Bangladesh

Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)

Paper & Paper Products Manufacturing Employees' Union Of Malaysia (PPPMEU)

 Persatuan  Sahabat  Wanita, Selangor

Persatuan  Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)

PILAR (United Indonesians in Hong Kong against Overcharging) , Hong Kong

Pusat KOMAS (KOMAS)

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia {SABM}

SUARAM, Malaysia

Tamilnadu Domestic Workers Union, India

Tamilnadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust, India

Tenaganita, Malaysia

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), Singapore

United for Foreign Domestic Workers' Rights (UFDWR )

WAC, Philippines

WARBE Development Foundation-Bangladesh

Women Workers Lead

WH4C – Workers Hub For Change

Yayasan LINTAS NUSA - Batam – Indonesia

Solidaritas Perempuan (SP) / Women's Solidarity for Human Rights, Indonesia

SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), India

Electronic Industry Employees Union Eastern  Region(EIEUER), Malaysia[KSIEWTSM]  

MakeITFair

Nepal Labour Journalists' Association

Migrant  Care, Indonesia

CIMS (Centre for Indian Migrant's Studies)

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

Kav LaOved – Protecting Workers' Rights

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