Undocumented Workers in Malaysia
Days are now for fake manpower agents
A section of manpower agents and middlemen are making a fortune, alluring the undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia to be regularised after an amnesty granted by Malaysia for illegal foreign workers.
The fraudsters have been taking the chance as the workers are not aware of the process of the amnesty, experts said. They suggested the government handle the matter seriously to help the workers out of the risk.
The agents are demanding between Malaysian ringgit 3,000 and 4,000 from each for regularisation, although the government has fixed fees range between ringgit 2,000 and 2,500, said Sohel Ahmed who has been in Malaysia for several years.
About five lakh Bangladeshis are now working in Malaysia. Of them, three lakh are estimated illegal.
“It will be very unfortunate if the workers get cheated again by the manpower agents,” said Prof CR Abrar, executive director of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit on Saturday.
He called on the Bangladeshi high commission to make the workers aware of the middlemen so that they do not fall prey to the fraudsters.
“It is the responsibility of the both governments to protect the workers from the hands of the fraudulent agents,” he told daily sun.
Kuala Lumpur granted an amnesty for the illegal workers on June 22, allowing them to be regularised or go back home without facing any penalty.
The registration will begin on August 1.
The Malaysian government will follow two types of processes in legalising the Bangladeshi workers.
The workers can legalise them through the selected agents by paying a certain amount of fee. Even, they need not to pay any amount if they go directly to the immigration office.
When contacted, Bangladesh High Commissioner AKM Atiqur Rahman said the workers were fleeing their workplaces without knowing details.
To address the problem, the embassy has taken steps, including distribution of leaflets and published advertisements, to prevent workers from fleeing their workplaces and hiding any information in passport.
It is also suggesting them to press the company owners to take them to immigration office for hassle-free registration.
“We have been requesting the workers not to go to brokers or agents in a hurry in a bid to legalise them,” Atiqur said, urging the workers to go by their directions to avoid hassles.
-With Daily Sun input
