Three Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia were framed in a case that led to their arrests for defying pressure to withdraw complaints they lodged with the police and labour department against their employer.

This was stated in a case filed by the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) with Kuala Lumpur police on March 24, after the three workers were released on bail...

The statement said over 600 workers paid around Tk 500,000 each through a syndicate of 100 recruiting agencies for jobs that will pay them RM15,00 (Tk 37,000) each as basic salary. However, recruited by the above mentioned companies, they were not being paid.

Even their passports were withheld, said the case statement.

The statement said, facing this situation, the workers made formal complaints against the companies to the Malaysian labour department and police seeking redress of their problems.

However, their complaint didn't go well with the employing companies...

PSM said they have communicated with the Ministry of Human Resources over the unpaid salary issue. Police is yet to act on recovering the personal belongings of the three workers.

"The PSM also wants to know what action has been taken against the employer for holding the employees' original passports which is a criminal offence. We also want a neutral and independent investigation."