Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources will conduct nationwide operations following a letter by a migrant rights activist to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), regarding the plight of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia. Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said that the move was to ensure that there are no elements as alleged in the letter, including the issue of an unfavourable environment and foreign workers who are allegedly struggling in debt bondage. “I view this matter seriously as I want to prevent actions outside of the law. “I also want anyone involved not to repeat things like this, and we want to avoid the occurrence of elements of forced labour in this country,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
The Minister was commenting on a report about activist, Andy Hall, who has written a letter to OHCHR, a body under the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Switzerland, alleging that hundreds of Bangladeshi workers are struggling in debt bondage and without jobs in Malaysia.
