TWENTY per cent of Malaysia’s workforces are foreign workers. But what happens when a foreign worker is exploited?
Foreign workers could file a case at the Labor Court or lodge police reports against their employers, this usually results in their work permits being cancelled by the employers. This leaves the migrant worker in a dilemma as he has no right to continue to be in the country without work and the capacity to earn a living. Foreign worker could apply for a special pass while waiting for his case to be settled. However, the pass did not allow a foreign worker to work in the country. It is only valid for 30 days.
The application for the special pass itself takes months, during which the foreign worker’s status is illegal. The application hits a dead end if the foreign worker does not have his passport.
We do not allow foreign workers with special passes to work in the country as this would create a loophole for illegal’s to work. We cannot allow them to use the special pass to work and stay for as long as their case is being heard because there are hundreds of thousands of illegal in the country. We have found a few cases filed in court just for them to obtain a special pass. A special pass is valid for 30 days and renewable up to three times. As far as the Immigration Department is concerned, this 90 days is given on the understanding that the worker’s family, good friends, non-governmental organizations, embassies, high commissions or any other person would support him during this period.
