KUALA LUMPUR – Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has urged Human Resources Minister Steven Sim to investigate the case of three Bangladeshi workers who were arrested after filing reports with the police and the Labour Department recently.
Slamming the police’s action, its head of the workers bureau, M. Sivaranjani, said the three workers were among the 55 who had filed a police report against their employer for not providing them work, withholding their passports, and not paying their salaries.
“They are also among the 14 who filed claims for unpaid wages with the Labour Department.
“Although no action appears to have been taken against the employer, the police arrested three men for criminal intimidation and causing harm under Sections 506 and 323 of the Penal Code,” she added.
Sivaranjani said the party believed these allegations to be trumped-up and fabricated, aimed at silencing the remaining workers who currently live in fear of arrest and further intimidation.
The human resources minister has to look into this and ensure that the workers get their backdated wages and new employment, she added.
“The ministry should ensure that the workers are protected and that their rights and welfare are safeguarded,” she said.
Sivaranjani also called on the police to release the three workers, who were remanded for four days on police bail, and make sure that their passports were returned to them.
It was reported on Thursday that the police had arrested Bangladeshi workers in Kuala Lumpur.
The arrest came days after several dozen workers, who had been staying in the country for seven months without being provided jobs or salaries, filed complaints with the Labour Department against their recruiting companies. – March 23, 2024