KUALA LUMPUR – The Human Resources Ministry will conduct nationwide operations following a letter by a migrant rights activist to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) regarding the plight of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.
Minister V. Sivakumar stressed that the move was to ensure that there are no elements as alleged in the letter, including the issue of an unfavourable environment and migrant workers who are allegedly struggling in debt bondage.
“I view this matter seriously as I want to prevent actions outside of the law.
“I also want anyone involved not to repeat things like this, and we want to avoid the occurrence of elements of forced labour in this country,” he told reporters after attending an event in Gombak today.
He was commenting on a local media report about activist Andy Hall, who has written a letter to OHCHR, a body under the UN Human Rights Council in Switzerland, alleging that hundreds of Bangladeshi workers are struggling in debt bondage and without jobs in Malaysia.
On Malaysians who are often deceived by job scams abroad, Sivakumar explained that his ministry will continue to provide information to youths, to ensure that they do not fall for the empty promises of agents.
He said that his ministry, through its agency TalentCorp, is also implementing various efforts to ensure that students who are about to enter the world of work know of the potential jobs in this country, as well as creating more opportunities in the field of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), so that they do not depend on foreign countries.
He also said that applications for admission to 1,334 TVET institutions nationwide for the January 2024 session are open until November 13.
“I hope youths seize the opportunity to venture into the field of TVET, because the courses offered are tailored according to the needs of the labour market, thus guaranteeing employment opportunities in the future.
He added that the government has mainstreamed TVET skills training as the main option by opening up opportunities for skills training to all Malaysians, regardless of race or socio-economic status. – November 5, 2023