A large number of foreign workers at Kawaguchi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd who have not received their wages for seven months have been “forced” to accept jobs at other companies, claims human rights activist Andy Hall.

He told FMT that the workers were interviewed yesterday by at least six companies at the firm’s factory in Port Klang, but were in no position to negotiate the terms of their employment.

Hall claimed the workers had signed certain documents, believed to be employment contracts, but had yet to be given copies.

“The workers have not been given the terms and conditions of employment, and no other information has been made available,” he said, adding that the workers were left without any option but to take up whatever employment was given to them...

“They (companies and authorities) came (yesterday) morning. We were shocked. We do not know what companies they are being sent to work for, or what their contracts and salaries are like,” said Hall.

He also claimed he had managed to get three internationally certified electronics and glove manufacturing companies to send official requests to the labour department expressing interest in taking in the displaced workers, but that the requests had not been acted on.

Hall said the workers were in fear of being exploited all over again...