PANAP Interview with Glorene Dass - Director of Tenaganita 

Congratulations to dōTERRA Healing Hands for 10 Years of Empowering Change.

The government of Malaysia must halt an ongoing crackdown on migrants, journalists and civil society in the context of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and strongly oppose xenophobia and hate speech against migrants, UN experts said today.

THE conditional movement control order (MCO) and gradual reopening of all sectors of the economy signals a new beginning.

As the MCO continues well into Ramadan, BMW Malaysia is deploying its vehicles to distribute much needed supplies to Klang Valley’s underprivileged.

Most of the harvesters are from Indonesia. With the improving wage conditions in their own country, it is becoming more difficult to attract them here. However deforestation is also a big problem. This has been proven over and over again without the pictures of orang utans.

Flexible it can be, but a comprehensive policy , there must be!!

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, a support organisation for women workers, described the minimum wage decision as a “slap on the face for workers”.

The PSWS Secretary Suguna Papachan said in a statement: “Women workers are at the bottom rung of the wage ladder, toil with meagre wages to bring up their families where they receive very little State assistance in child care benefits. Less than 50% of the informal labour workforce are women who earn minimum wage for several years, a poverty wage.

The Bangladesh Governmepnt will take measures so that the Bangladeshi migrants can move freely and work without any harassment in Malaysia,Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has requested the Malaysian government to stop the ongoing detention and to create scope for legalising the undocumented workers living in Malaysia - Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam

Tenaganita director Glorene Das says the government will be equally responsible for the outcome if the Rohingya community is not recognised in the country.

Tamang wasn’t alone--he was one of the nearly 300 Nepali workers who died in Malaysia last year,

It's about the inhumane treatment of undocumented migrant workers, says Tenaganita.

Detainees tell shocking tales of beatings, humiliation, corruption and intimidation at the hands of immigration officers; a Malaysia-based human rights group says such abuse is a daily occurrence

The women who keep the global garment supply chain running are facing their own gender-based abuse. 

Tenaganita says the never ending raids on undocumented foreign workers are bordering on lunacy as authorities expect different results with the same actions.

Rights organisation Tenaganita says private agencies set very high recruitment fees as they are primarily focused on profit.

Klang MP says the Uighurs are at risk of persecution, life imprisonment, and torture if returned to China.

Human rights defenders can only hope that democratic renewal and our own experience with political persecution will somehow translate into a more compassionate refugee policy.

25 judges, prosecutors, legal aid practitioners, officials from the Commission on Human Rights, the Ministry of Human Resources and the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as members of the Bar Council of Malaysia participated in an ILO workshop to increase their knowledge on forced labour.

38 Bangladeshis among 51 held

The Home Ministry has been told to focus its attention on the root cause of illegal foreign workers, instead of cracking down on the victims. 

Children's rights groups and activists from all over the country are calling for a ban on child marriage in Malaysia.

Catholic activists call for enquiry after two boats tried to cross border ahead of Malaysian crackdown on illegal workers.

Key sectors such as construction and plantation are expected to face a shortage of la­­bour following the cessation of the foreign workers rehiring programme, said the Malaysian Em­­ployers Federation (MEF).

Thousands of irregular workers may have to return as rehiring scheme ends today; workers serving more than 10yrs won't get work permit

Malaysia’s new government said on Saturday it is considering amending laws on human trafficking and migrant smuggling just days after the U.S. State Department report.

Malaysian Prime Minister renews his support for Palestine refugees and UNRWA in a Meeting with Deputy Commissioner-General

Poor people around the world are streaming into Malaysia in search of factory work. Once they arrive, they often find only hardship.

After Nepal, Bangladeshi workers set free from Malaysian scam following Malaysian government intervention.

The International Women’s Rights Action Watch cites the case of lawyer-activist Siti Kasim’s arrest to underline the urgent need for such legislation.

Protect our workers bound for Malaysia

Wilmar has been trading palm oil all over the world, including to brands like P&G, Nestlé and Unilever. Brands cannot let this deception pass unchallenged, and have no choice but to suspend all business with Wilmar until it can prove it only trades clean palm oil from responsible producers.

Malaysia freezes hiring workers from Bangladesh thru govt channel

Food contamination at KL eateries less than 15%

The Klang MP, who leads a human rights group, says the new government should ratify the UN convention on refugees.

Charles Santiago says any action taken must do justice to migrant workers as many of them are undocumented due to the fault of their employers.

Based on interviews with some 550 workers in 53 H&M and Gap supplier factories in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, rights groups said women were at “daily risk” of violence, and faced retaliation if they reported the attacks.

Any time you have retaliation against workers, and coercion and control ... you are coming close to the line of forced labor.

For years we have known Samsung exploits workers, now HTC, will it ever end ?? It is time to really organize workers!
This must be seriously addressed by Unions in particularly ITUC and ILO too!!

The Director General of Immigration is rightly concerned about the uncontrolled influx of undocumented migrant workers into the country, but he should realize that repeating the same flawed measures each year is unlikely to result in any positiveout come. Instead, it would be more beneficial if he engaged with people and civil society organisations that have been working directly with migrant workers to first understand the root causes of the problem and then formulate a practical plan that is humane, equitable and respectful of human rights, to manage the situation of migrant workers in our country.- Tenaganita

This applies to the biggest plantation companies that employ thousands of labourers, down to the humble tom yam stall owner with one kitchen helper.

(This applies to) everyone, including in the informal sector. This is the law of the country. Minimum wage applies to everybody.- Tenaganita

In the next five years or so, Malaysia’s foreign policy will be moulded and executed in a way that projects itself as an ethical power in the international arena, says the author.

Themed “Generation Safe and Healthy”, this year’s commemoration is in line with ILO’s aim to secure safe working environments for all workers by 2030 and end all forms of child labour by 2025.

RM 1,500 minimum wage will hurt plantation industry, says Sime Darby

Rozita Mohd Ali's application to stay the sentence is allowed due to 'exceptional circumstances' but Court of Appeal imposes conditions while she is out of jail.

Lawyers’ group wants new probe on Wang Kelian mass graves

Rights activists question the union's president for opposing any move to allow some 150,000 refugees in the country to seek employment legally.

KL not to deprive Bangladeshis already working there: minister

127 human trafficking victims rescued and 16 people hold up

#stophumantrafficking

#malaysianasmigrant

#domesticworksiswork

It can lead to developmental delays and self-harm while putting children at very real risk of violence, sexual abuse and exploitation.

A NEWBORN, tiny and fragile, swaddled in the mother's arm. Around them, insects were scurrying all over their room; made with loose boards

Malaysia topped the list with 546 cases of deaths with unknown causes, followed by Qatar (140) and Saudi Arabia (34). Malaysia hosts nearly half a million Nepali migrant workers, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia each have 400,000.

Ram Sundar Yadav said his employer in Malaysia locked him in a room for 15 days when he refused to perform duties outside his contract.

In Suaram’s overview of the Human Rights Report at the end of 2016, we reported only two additional deaths in police custody. However, a parliamentary reply has since revealed that there were 15 deaths in police custody in 2016.

Migrants have become an integral part of Malaysia’s economy and support their families by sending substantial amounts of remittances to their home countries. In fact, remittance growth by migrants in Malaysia has been dramatic since 2006, with an increase in remittance outflows of more than 500% in the past ten years.

On top of a black "Anti-human trafficking" T-shirt, she wears a blue denim shirt with a button badge with the words "I am not for sale" pinned to her left breast pocket.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 ― With foreigners contributing about 20 per cent of tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in the country, concerns are mounting over the breeding of the disease among refugees here.

Malaysia has yet to strengthen its laws to provide greater protection to foreign employees despite reports of rampant abuses, an international human rights watchdog said

Currently, the Global Slavery Index estimates 128,800 individuals are trapped in modern day slavery in Malaysia. That’s about 0.4% of Malaysia’s total population

Two years ago, on May 21, 2015, the Malaysian authorities uncovered more than 100 bodies in multiple mass graves about 500 metres from the country’s northern border as well as numerous human trafficking camps.

NGO's executive director Glorene Das quizzes government over lack of transparency in investigations following discovery of Wang Kelian mass grave in Perlis.

Norwegian Refugee Council report reveals extent of the hidden crisis that forced 31 million people – one every second – to flee within their countries last year

Police have rescued 42 Myanmar nationals believed to be victims of forced labour exploitation in a raid on an automobile spare parts factory at the Industrial Area, in Jalan Perusahaan, here, Wednesday. Police said the victims, comprising 14 women and 28 men aged between 16 and 35 years old did not have any valid travel documents or work permits

Bangladeshi security forces have detained more than a dozen members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya Muslim community and two men accused of attempting to smuggle them into Malaysia by boat on May 9, said the Office-in-Charge (OC), Mainuddin Khan from Teknaf police station.

At least two dozen refugees and asylum seekers have died in overcrowded Malaysian immigration detention centres since 2015, 

PUTRAJAYA:  The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) recognises the role and commitment of Malaysia in bringing in about 3,500 Syrian refugees to the country more than a year ago without incurring high costs or being a burden to the government.

Government can help clear negative image as human trafficking hub by resolving issue of illegal Chinese workers at Forest City project in Johor, says Steven Sim

Rights groups welcome steps to improve treatment of migrant workers after Guardian revealed claims of exploitation in supply chains in Malaysia, but say more must be done

Thirty-six foreign women and five Malaysian men were detained by police in a raid on a spa in Bandar Seri Alam, Masai

Sabah police rescued three foreign women from becoming victims of human trafficking activities and sexual exploitation in Sandakan yesterday evening.

Home Ministry is currently investigating some of the 14 immigration state branches which have issued e-Kad to illegal foreign workers who have not gone through the Rehiring Programme

Seven female illegal migrant workers from West Nusa Tenggara who were rescued from an alleged human trafficking attempt during an operation on March 29

20% of the nation's almost 29 million people are migrant workers in the Middle East, Malaysia and South Korea, generating remittances that make up a quarter of Nepal's GDP.

Human rights group chief Razali Ismail criticises those who deny Orang Asli control over their own lands and development based on their own values.

Undocumented female workers in Malaysia take up jobs as cleaners, waitresses, masseuses and prostitutes, and are vulnerable to exploitation and harassment by police

"Many don't know where they are and are too afraid to leave because they have been threatened by the employers and agents”

Negri Sembilan man says his family left their hometown thinking their life would turn around but it only got worse at the oil palm plantation in Pengkalan Hulu.

Couple arrested for further investigation

Economists differ on what Putrajaya should do amid claims it did not carry out enough consultations on the new policy.

Just 12-years-old at the time, she was forced to wed a man she did not know, and who was more than a decade older than her

Refugees and asylum seekers cannot be forcefully returned to the circumstances or dangers that they had been forced to flee from in their home countries

Trades union body says emulating Starbucks move to hire refugees in wake of US immigration ban, is not the solution as labour laws here don't protect refugees.

IOM DG calls for finding creative means to permit safe, legal and secure migration

Stateless children are not the only ones being deprived of education in Malaysia, says Tenaganita, adding that locals working in plantations and the Orang Asal, whose children do not have birth certificates, also face the same predicament.

Human trafficking syndicate believed to also be involved in the printing of fake immigration security stickers. 

A human trafficking syndicate believed to have been operating for a while has been foiled by the Immigration Department in Desa Petaling.

Rescued victims of human traffickers were confined to a condomonium until sent to agents or employers.

Increase in human trafficking related convictions can be attributed to close coopoeration but still more must be done.

Lee Cheng Wah is accused of trafficking a 32 year old Vietnamese woman who faced sexual exploitation.

It was found a labour supply agency whom had supplied workers to McDonalds has been withholding the salaries and passports of foreign workers. 

Human trafficking cases have alarmingly risen seven times the amount from 2015 to 2016.

State Human Resources committee encourages industries to hire locally rather than abroad but local manufacturers will struggle with the higher cost of wages. 

101 East investigates the sinister world of baby selling in Malaysia, where infants are sold to the highest bidder 

FOMEMA's new scheme allows businesses to speed up the registration process of new foreign workers through a payment channel found online. 

The Government defends decision to suspend new temporary work visas from foreigners, due to the high number of pre-existing temporary visas. 

Public complaints have led to the arrest of 16 foreign workers and the shut down of several market stands.

Labour shortages are calling out for the government to import foreign labour, in aim to maximise financial profits.

Forty-one women: 26 Vietnamese, three Indonesians, eight from China and four from Laos, believed to be human trafficking victims were rescued 

14 women from China, a Filipina and a man from China – were rescued during a raid at about 1.40am on Friday

Malaysia urges international community to help resettle existing refugee populations in host countries to third countries

Malaysia sought Lebanon's assistance in fulfilling its pledge to take in up to 3,000 Syrian migrants fleeing their war-torn country

Malaysian government expressed concerns at what it described as lingering problems in resettling migrants and refugees in third countries

Employers calling for a review of the plan by the Immigration Department in freezing assets and bank accounts of those who hire and harbour undocumented foreign workers

A coalition of NGOs working on migrant rights urging the government to come up with a comprehensive policy on labour migration

Trafficking victims freed from chains in a raid 

The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), workers and organisations want the profit motive removed from the recruitment of migrant labour

Having escaped poverty and persecution in Myanmar, Rohingya end up in limbo in Malaysia: illegal to work and years for resettlement to another country

Tenaganita expresses concern over the culture of child marriages in Malaysia

Trafficking laws will not be sufficient to curb and tackle the trafficking problem if political will is absent

Our migrant worker policy today is back to the British colonial times, treating workers as disposable tools 

The government must accept the right of refugees to seek asylum and allow the UNHCR to continue their work

Cabinet's decision on the non-issuance of UNHCR cards leave vulnerable refugees further unprotected

The crime of human trafficking is a major problem in this country, as Malaysia does not have a good system that protects immigrants, refugees, trafficked and abused

Human rights group also offers to arrange meeting between the Nobel prize laureate and the Rohingya community.

Tenaganita hails health ministry's plan to provide free service as this can reduce the spread of infectious diseases