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Article

5 Sep 2024

Author:
By Jason Thomas, Free Malaysia Today (Malaysia)

Labour dept probes Bangladeshi workers’ forced labour claims

…The Selangor labour department is investigating claims of unpaid wages and other forced labour indicators by a group of Bangladeshi workers at a factory in Klang that supplies components to major electronics companies.

In an e-mail to the company and its major customers, migrant rights activist Andy Hall shared a report based on interviews with seven workers which details their allegations of forced labour.

The report claims that the workers have not been paid for up to six months, causing them and their families severe distress.

They also allegedly paid exorbitant recruitment fees through loans, worsening their financial difficulties.

According to the report, the workers are forced to work seven days a week…

…the workers’ lived in overcrowded dormitories, with many sharing a single room. It also said the toilet facilities provided to workers are unhygienic, contributing to their poor living conditions…

Some workers are allegedly working without valid visas due to the company’s failure to renew them…

…workers who raised concerns about unpaid wages or working conditions were allegedly threatened with detention, deportation, or police action…

…the Selangor labour department is looking into the claims…

…In another video, a worker claimed he was forced to work 12 hours every day….

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