"Ending exploitation of the vulnerable", 1 February 2021

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Acting Commissioner of Labour Muhammad Saufi bin Haji Ibrahim who is also Chairman of the Task Force for Public Awareness, National Committee on [trafficking in persons] TIP spoke about his department’s role in looking out for signs of exploitation among foreign workers in the country and any elements of TIP by scrutinising the recruitment process.

The Labour Department underscored its commitment to the process that ensures ethical employment practices.

Muhammad Saufi said several measures are in place to protect the rights of foreign workers’ in the recruitment process in accordance with Brunei’s law. “Only licensed employment agencies are allowed to recruit foreign workers to Brunei. These agencies have to fulfil strict licensing requirements set by the Labour Department including the need to have a thorough understanding of the laws and regulations, especially those relating to the rights of foreign workers.”

The acting commissioner said that the department works closely with Job Centre Brunei, the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Energy and other regulators in safeguarding the integrity of the recruitment process.

He also highlighted the department’s stance against TIP, which they view as a major crime.

“We pay close attention to the recruitment of foreign workers in sectors that are vulnerable to TIP. For example, when a construction company applies to bring in foreign workers to Brunei, the department will conduct mandatory inspections on their project site to assess their eligibility for a Foreign Workers Licence (FWL),” he said.