CANCEL VISAS OF COMING BANGLADESHI WORKERS - MTUC

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Trades Union Congress
(MTUC) Monday called on the government to immediately revoke the visas of the
70,000 Bangladeshi workers who are expected to take up employment in the country
soon.

MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam told Bernama the country was already
under great stress of losing thousands of jobs and the influx of foreign workers
would further aggravate the situation.

Moreover, he said, thousands of Bangladeshi workers now in the country were
facing a bleak future due to unemployment and under-employment.

He said it was better to revoke the visas while the workers were still in
their country of origin.

Balasubramaniam was commenting on the disclosure by Bangladeshi Labour
Counsellor Talat Mahmud Khan that 70,000 Bangladeshi workers, who had approved
visas, were expected to arrive here soon to take up employment in the
plantation, construction and services sectors.

Meanwhile, labour market sources told Bernama the problem could not be that
easily resolved as these workers had already paid substantial sums of money for
their visas to agents from outsourcing companies, and they were unlikely to get
a refund.

The workers had to pay between RM9,000 and RM10,000 for the visas and levy.
There are more than 250 registered outsourcing companies in Malaysia.
(US$1=RM3.72)

The problem was further complicated by the fact that the workers had
borrowed the money for the visas from relatives and moneylenders.

"Under such circumstances, if the visas are revoked the workers will lose
all their money and this will not be acceptable and will also tarnish Malaysia's
image in the world labour market," said the sources.

Balasubramaniam proposed that both the Human Resources and Home Affairs
ministries call for an immediate meeting with all stakeholders to find an
amicable solution to the problem.

He pointed out that the main weakness in the issuing of visas at present in
Malaysia was that the visas were approved by the Home Ministry while the Human
Resources Ministry acted in an advisory capacity.
-- BERNAMA