Adopt foreign worker welfare reforms immediately, watchdog tells govt

SHAH ALAM - A foreign worker watchdog has issued a strong call to the government to immediately implement recommendations including reforms aimed at improving the lives of foreign workers.

The Independent Committee on the Management of Foreign Workers has demanded that the government release the committee's report to the public.

The committee's recomendation is linked to overall national policies, recruitment, repatriation, regularisation of undocumented workers, stateless persons and refugees.

It also said there is an urgent need to remove corrupt practices and preferential treatment granted to appointed service providers.

"That impediments faced by employers in employing foreign workers should be addressed and resolved immediately.

"There must be an immediate end to the abuse of foreign workers (documented and undocumented) by employers, recruitment entities and enforcement agencies," the committee said in a statement.

The Independent Committee also expressed their utmost dissapointment since the issues identified by the group is unabated with the recent incidents faced by both employers and foreign workers.

"We express our grave disquiet at the recent revelations regarding the alleged corrupt practices in the Human Resources ministry in respect of the recruitment of foreign workers.

"We further state that the recruitment, employment and repatriation of foreign workers should be fair, transparent and ethical.

"These principles should be the fundamental pillars in the government’s management of foreign workers in Malaysia," the group said.