Malaysia: Petrazehra latest company accused of recruiting & leaving Bangladeshi workers without jobs, pay, passports or permits; co. did not respond
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Months after 300 Bangladeshi workers arrived in Malaysia to work for conglomerate Petrazehra, 100 workers are reportedly still left "confined" in a hostel having taken loans of around USD4,500 to obtain jobs.
The men have reportedly been housed in cramped accommodation since arriving in October 2023 with limited access to food. They allegedly did not receive promised jobs, wages or work permits, and their passports were withheld. Since arriving men who have fallen ill have said they did not have access to proper medical care and that doctors have said they cannot receive treatment without work permits and passports.
Workers said company respresentatives have warned them against complaining to the authorities. They are unable to get legal work elsewhere as they are only permitted to work for the hiring company. One worker reportedly died of a stroke while waiting for news.
Petrazehra agents warned us not to complain to authorities. They kept promising us work permits and jobs, but nothing has materialised yet... Now, my family can't pay back the loans nor take new ones to help me survive.Migrant worker hired by Petrazehra
The Resource Centre wrote to Petrazehra in April 2024 to invite the company to respond to the allegations; the company did not respond.