MALAYSIA TREAT FOREIGN WORKERS WELL

MELAKA (Malaysia), March 28 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government has never oppressed foreign workers in the country, said Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said the report by a foreign broadcasting agency that Malaysia mistreats
foreign workers was absolutely not true.

"The issue that Malaysian employers treat foreign workers cruelly arose
following unauthorised employment agents in their home countries making
incorrect job recommendations.

"These unauthorised agents deceive the workers being brought into the
country with assurances and situations that are different after they arrive in
the country.

"I cannot accept such a view because workers who came officially, through
the proper channel, do not become an issue," he told reporters.

He was commenting a recent BBC report which quoted several workers from
Bangladesh and India as saying that the situation and treatment they receive in
this country are bad.

Dr Subramaniam said foreign workers who follow the correct channel and
register with the government are subject to labour laws and the Industrial
Relations Act where receive the same treatment and rights as local workers.