1 worker died - because the employer was slow in providing healthcare, and this is what started the protest by more than 5,000 workers - and they were migrant workers. It was also involving workers from many different countries - Nepal, Burma, Vietnam, India and Bangladesh. Language difficulties and other differences were overcome as these workers united for workers' rights.
It may be the biggest worker protest at a factory that Malaysia has seen for years - but sadly, we see that the media reports was rather unfair to their workers and their legitimate protests. The workers were painted in a negative light in the reports.
Notice also how the Star, in their reports protected the company, the employer, and it was not even named.
JOHOR BARU: A two-day protest by more than 5,000 foreigners at a factory workers' enclave, in Tebrau Industrial area here, turned violent Monday when a guard post was destroyed and stones and rubbish were hurled at bystanders.
The protesters, comprising workers mainly from Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India, even used fire extinguishers against bystanders and chased down a vehicle ferrying two health inspectors.
It is learnt a member of the public suffered a minor cut on his head after being hit by a stone thrown by the protestors.
The foreigners had, on Sunday, protested against the management of a factory, following the death of a Nepali worker.
On Monday, they demanded higher wages from the management and a mini-clinic to be built in the compound.
More than 200 policemen were deployed and managed to keep the situation under control, preventing any spillover.
Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaakob said the protestors dispersed about 5.50pm.
He added that the workers' representative would meet their agents as well as the factory's management on Tuesday to discuss problems faced by the workers.- Star, 16/8/2010, Foreign workers run riot at factory enclave
JOHOR BARU: A protest by more than a thousand foreign factory workers at their quarters in the Tebrau industrial area turned violent on its second day, as a guardpost was destroyed and onlookers were pelted with stones and rubbish.
The protest, which lasted some eight hours, also saw the workers – mainly from Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India – turning fire extinguishers on bystanders and chasing after a vehicle ferrying two health inspectors.
It is learnt that a bystander suffered a minor cut on his head after being hit by a stone thrown by a worker.
However, the 200 policemen deployed to the scene managed to prevent the fracas from spreading beyond the compound.
Smokescreen: Foreign workers running for cover after setting up a smokescreen by burning rubbish at their enclave in Tebrau industrial area in Johor Baru yesterday. The protest erupted on Sunday following the death of a Nepali factory worker from high fever, allegedly because the management had been slow in sending the worker to hospital.
Yesterday, the protesters demanded higher wages.
Bangladeshi Jinur Biswas, 26, said the workers wanted their wages increased from RM420 to RM546 per month.
“We also want the company to provide a mini-clinic within the compound and to pay about RM25,000 to the family of any worker who dies here,” he said, adding that prompt action was needed to aid any sick worker.
He also said the company had not been paying the workers overtime.
“Even if we worked 12 hours, they would pay us only two hours of overtime,” he said.
Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaakob said the workers dispersed at about 5.50pm.
“Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel were stationed there to restore calm at the quarters. They did not discharge their weapons or felt the need to fire water cannons,” said ACP Zainudddin.
He added that a representative from the workers would meet their agents and the factory’s management today to discuss the problems.
“The meeting will be held at 11am at the management office in the Tebrau Industrial area,” he said. - Star, 17/8/2010, Onlookers pelted with stones as protest over death of Nepali turns ugly
JOHOR BARU: The protest by foreign workers at the Tebrau industrial area is over. Police do not expect any further trouble.
Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaakob said the workers’ representative had met with their agents as well as the factory’s management yesterday and resolved the matter.
“The factory’s management has agreed to meet the workers’ demands, including increasing their wages,” he said.
He said all parties were satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and no more trouble was expected.
“I hope the workers will not stir up trouble and solve any problem in a non-violent manner,” he said.
The protest which took place at the workers quarters involved more than a thousand foreign factory workers who turned violent on Monday, destroying a guard post and pelting onlookers with stones and rubbish.
The workers – mainly from Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India – also turned fire extinguishers on bystanders and chased after a vehicle ferrying two health inspectors.
However, the 200 policemen deployed to the scene managed to prevent the fracas from spreading beyond the compound. - Star, 18/8/2010, Johor foreign workers’ protest now resolved
It was indeed good that JCY International Berhad, a company incorporated in Malaysia, which supplies Hitachi, Samsung, Seagate, ... responded quickly and apparently reached a settlement with the workers - see also their Press Statement on this issue
The protest also received recognition by ITUC - in their website
A three-day protest by more than 5,000 migrant workers over the death of a Nepali co-worker ended on 17 August following a four-point agreement between JCY SDB BHD Company, a computer parts manufacturer in Johor Baru, and the company’s workers. According to fellow Nepali workers, Karna Bahadur Gharti Magar of Rolpa died on 14 August due to a delay in getting treatment for a serious illness caused by company negligence. ...
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