Published: Monday March 9, 2015 MYT
10:31:00 AM
Updated: Monday March 9, 2015 MYT 11:50:01 AM
Updated: Monday March 9, 2015 MYT 11:50:01 AM
UN
Special Rapporteur: Malaysia’s migrant workers often exploited, trafficked,
prostituted
by victoria brown
PETALING JAYA: It is estimated that
there are two million documented migrant workers, and another two million or more
undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia, according to United Nations Special
Rapporteur on trafficking in persons Maria Grazia Giammarinaro (pic).
These workers are often exploited
for cheap labour by unscrupulous recruitment agencies and employers.
According to Giammarinaro, migrant
workers may be made to work long hours, lack rest days, not being paid their
salary, or even suffer physical and sexual abuse.
“Moreover, trafficking of young
foreign women and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation is also
prevalent in the country,” said Giammarinaro in a press release, following her
six-day visit to Malaysia in February.
“They are mostly forced into the
commercial sex trade following deceptive recruitment practices for legal work
in Malaysia.”
She alleged that women and girls
from South Asia are also said to be entering “brokered marriages with older men
in Malaysia and subsequently being forced into domestic servitude and forced
prostitution”.
“In addition, the trafficking of
young foreign women and children from the purpose of sexual exploitation is
also prevalent in the country, where they are mostly forced into the commercial
sex trade following deceptive practices for legal work in Malaysia,” said
Giammarinaro.
Many victims of trafficking are
often detained and subsequently deported and not provided with adequate
specialist support for recovery and social inclusion, the press release
continued.
As a result, Ms. Giammarinaro called
for the country’s Government to adopt a new system of protection that provides
exploited workers immediate assistance to claim compensation as well as
temporary residence status and a work permit.
“No victim of trafficking should be
prosecuted for crimes linked with their situation of trafficked persons, and be
detained,” the expert stressed.
“Shelters must be open places,
preferably run by NGOs, which should be adequately funded for this purpose.
Psychological, medical and legal assistance should aim to promote
rehabilitation, reintegration and social inclusion of trafficked persons.”
The Human Rights Commission of
Malaysia (Suhakam) said that it has received constant complaints regarding
human trafficking over the years.
“Although we are not an enforcement
agency for transnational crimes, Suhakam has been acting as a bridge between
complainants and enforcement agencies to ensure that immediate and appropriate
action is taken on every complaint,” said Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam.
“Suhakam holds the view that human
trafficking and smuggling of migrants should be dealt with great urgency by the
relevant authorities,” he said.
In supporting the country’s effort
to combat human trafficking, Suhakam has held various dialogues and roundtable
discussions with relevant Government agencies and other stakeholders, as well
as made submissions to the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and
Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO) in Malaysia.
The Commission said that they also
conduct periodic visits to shelters for victims of human trafficking and
promotes awareness to the public of the danger of human trafficking.
Hasmy said that it is also important
to ensure the human rights of trafficked victims are guaranteed from the moment
they are rescued, and during their rehabilitation and re-integration into
society.
“Suhakam calls on the Government to
intensify its effort to prevent and combat human trafficking and smuggling of
migrants,” said Hasmy.
“As well as to ensure full
protection and assistance for trafficked and smuggled victims at all stages, in
line with international standards set by the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress
and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.” - Star, 9/3/2015, UNSpecial Rapporteur: Malaysia’s migrant workers often exploited, trafficked,prostituted
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