Abandoned Workers

there was an article in the papers (the star 6/10/2007 Stranded High and Dry Pg N21) about abandoned foreign workers, that they were left in a house, in a housing estate, with out job etc, and that there are thousands waiting for their employees at our national airport, but it seems that no one have employed them. I can Sympathize with them as I was a foreign worker my self 20 years back, in Switzerland. The Loneliness, the loss, the fear etc can be overwhelming.

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Irresponsible employers, especially those that want to exploit cheep labour even when there are local to be hired are to be blame. They are not willing to pay more for locals, when it actually cost more to have the foreign workers, their pay, their housing, their food. Of course some people will cut corners and will give them housing that even animals will not stay in and sub standard food. This is also true for those who provide housing and food to local staffs.

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Having said that, local are also not willing to work the hours this foreign workers work, nor as hard (some times) and the Job are simply not recognise. A waiter in Malaysia is a nobody, A waiter in Europe is recognise as a highly skilled professional who started at 16 years of age, working and studying as a apprentice and is well respected. My former coworkers in Europe were qualified as Engineers, Doctors, etc but choose waitering in a foreign country for a higher pay. This is a example that i am well aware off, having been a waiter in Europe and in Malaysia. Overall workers in Malaysia are in general not appreciate nor recognise. .

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Employers have to be responsible, to both locals and foreign workers, If they are willing to pay agents for foreign labour, provide (suitable) housing, provide (suitable) food, provide medical treatment, provided cloths, why cant they pay more for the Local staff to work, treat them better, give them the recognition they are due, more may be willing to work those long hours and work hard. after all hundred thousands of Malaysian are running away oversea to work, in what in Malaysia is low status job.

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The house next to mine, (as well as the house at the back) were recently rented out to a company that used the house as accommodation to Foreign workers, Initially we were a bit worried, but i reason out to my self that these people were just like me. Of course the possibilities that there may be a few bad hats among them, as there could be bad hats among Malaysians.

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This Company seems to treat this workers well, very well indeed, the whole house were painted, repaired, washed, proper bedding were provided as were sofa, cooking equipments, in fact better that those that i provide for my self. Beds were of Double Decker verity. There is a man that come by in a merc once in a while and look in. I have not seem a company treating local workers this way.

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What is disquieting or make me slightly nervous is that this workers does not seem to work. No one come to pick them up to work, and there is always some of them around at all hours. There is another house which is also rented out to another company, and this workers are pick up daily and work the whole day. I certainly hope that there will not be a case of abandoned workers next to my house.

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Some things must be done about this problem in general, Key points should be

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1) Encourage Locals, may be Better Pay, Better Treatment, Better Social Status, if a company can pay more for foreign workers, they can pay locals the same. A MINIMUM WAGE will be nice. with equal treatment, if Foreign Workers can be provided all meals and housing, locals should get them as well.

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2) A Mechanism to enable this Foreign Workers to go home with their hard earn salary if they are abandoned, either a insurance (which can be faked) or payment / deposit (in advance to their arrival in malaysia) to the Government, which is refundable once the foreign workers return to their country.

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3) When the Foreign Workers arrive they must be accommodated decently. those abandoned, their agents both local and foreign, and their purportedly employers must be severely penalise and not just black listed. Companies should not be give immunity.

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In general I feel companies in malaysia do not make any effort in general to, 1) Encourage Locals to work, 2) Upgrade / improve conditions, or social conditions of the Job. They seem to think that Foreign Labour/Workers is the answer. It may be the short term solution, but frankly not the long term ones.

A picture of the Foreign Workers Loitering around in the house compound next to my house