PETALING JAYA, Malaysia - It is estimated that there are two million
documented migrant workers, and another two million or more undocumented
migrant workers in Malaysia, according to United Nations Special Rapporteur on
trafficking in persons Maria Grazia Giammarinaro (pic).These workers are often exploited for cheap labour by unscrupulous recruitment agencies and employers.
According to Giammarinaro, migrant workers may be made to
work long hours, lack rest days, not being paid their salary, or even suffer
physical and sexual abuse. “Moreover, trafficking of young foreign women and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation is also prevalent in the country,” said Giammarinaro in a press release, following her six-day visit to Malaysia in February.
“They are mostly forced into the commercial sex trade following deceptive recruitment practices for legal work in Malaysia.”
She alleged that women and girls from South Asia are also
said to be entering “brokered marriages with older men in Malaysia and
subsequently being forced into domestic servitude and forced prostitution”. “In addition, the trafficking of young foreign women and children from the purpose of sexual exploitation is also prevalent in the country, where they are mostly forced into the
commercial sex trade following
deceptive practices for legal work in Malaysia,” said Giammarinaro.Many victims of trafficking are often detained and subsequently deported and not provided with adequate specialist support for recovery and social inclusion, the press release continued.
Ms. Giammarinaro called for the country’s Government to adopt a new system of protection that provides exploited workers immediate assistance to claim compensation
as well as temporary residence status and a
work permit.
Source: The Star
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