Wednesday, December 03, 2025

Minister Steven Sim - Migrant Workers' Rights Violated/Terminated and Deported? MEDICERAM - Supply Chain of ANSELL, Top Glove, Etc..Ansell suspend its relationship with MediCeram?

Another major migrant worker issue in Malaysia - but the question is where is the Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim ...Why is the Ministry responsible for WORKERS not enforcing the law, and preventing worker rights violations..or migrant worker rights violations?? Will it get the attention of the Malaysian government only when some country takes actions - imposition of BAN on imports from some company(companies in the supply chain) by reason of worker rights violations??
 
Is the lack of concern by the Minister, politicians and political parties because these are foreign workers who have no right to VOTE???
 
This issue started around September 2025, and  Ansell announced on November 12 it would suspend its relationship with MediCeram - a decision that is usually made after the allegations are investigated and found to be true.
 
PROBLEMS faced uniquely by migrant workers in Malaysia
 
1) ACCESS TO JUSTICE - To use the HR Department(Labour Department) or the Labour Courts, requires the physical presence of the affected workers in Malaysia, the moment they are not - their claims just fall. Many employers to 'avoid JUSTICE' simply terminate, cancel the workers employment visa/permit, and 'force' the workers out of Malaysia. ONE REFORM - No migrant worker to be terminated/deported before the Human Resource Ministry issues a CERTIFICATE that there are NO outstanding claims against the Employer by said workers,
 
2) EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - Migrant workers agree to come to Malaysia to work at a Malaysian company usually for a minimum period of 3-5 years, but sadly many of the workers are forced to sign 'ANOTHER' employment agreement usually for 1 year(one reason then was the this was the Immigration Department requirement as employment passes/permits are issued for a year at a time), so workers are 'tricked' or 'convinced' to sign 'new employment agreements' to get their work permit/passes - problem is the new agreement may not be in the language where the migrant worker is literate in. REFORM SUGGESTED - Use the ORIGINAL Employment Agreement of 3-5 years(maybe HR Ministry can legally require this ORIGINAL Agreement to be deposited with the Ministry). Immigration Department can still issue yearly employment passes/permits but not insist on 1 year agreements, or BETTER still, the employment passes/permits should be issued for 3 to 5 years(as per the ORIGINAL employment agreement). This would also end the 'THREAT' that the employment passes/permits will not be renewed if the worker does not OBEY the employer(meaning do not fight for their rights OR for for better rights.)
 
3) In Malaysia, the law is clear that the employer cannot hold worker's PASSPORTS - but it still happens. Why hold the Passports - it like a lease on a dog. Please ENFORCE the laws..
 
4) It is now accepted that the employer of Migrant workers is obligated to repay migrant workers for recruitment fees they paid to agents to get their jobs at the Malaysian factory - BUT, sadly Malaysia has still not ENACTED the law that makes it an obligation for the EMPLOYER to repay workers this recruitment fees _ Why is that Minister Sim?
 
MALAYSIA  need to be careful because it may be considered a HUMAN TRAFFICKER by reason of its laws/policies/practices that now still allows employers to EXPLOIT workers and violate their rights..
 
The problem existed during the OLD BN rule, and when Pakatan Harapan ousted the BN government - many expected that finally there will be REFORMS and justice will prevail.... BUT... 
 
See also:-
 

Workers deported from Ansell-linked Malaysian factory after abuse allegations

By investigative reporter Ben Butler
MediCeram generic

Manufacturer MediCeram has been accused of human rights abuses by its workers. (Facebook: MediCeram Sdn Bhd)

In short:

A former supplier for the Australian glove company Ansell has fired migrant workers after claims of human rights abuses at its Malaysian factory.

Mould manufacturer MediCeram is accused of abusing the rights of more than 200 Bangladeshi workers, with Ansell suspending its partnership with the company.

MediCeram has denied all allegations and says it is the target of an "unfair" campaign.

 

Malaysia: Bangladeshi workers employed by glove co. Mediceram supplying to major multinationals protest alleged rights abuses & forced deportations; incl. cos. responses

lnzyx Getty Images

On November 4, Mediceram executives dragged us onto a bus to the airport. We were literally crying.
Bangladeshi worker employed by Mediceram

In November 2025, it was reported that 180 Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia were allegedly dismissed by the Malaysian glove manufacturer Mediceram at the end of October after they protested the non-renewal of many of their visas. Mediceram – a glove manufacturer – allegedly supplies to major multinationals including Ansell, YTY and Top Glove.

Ten of the Bangladeshi workers allegedly were then deported after being “forcibly” taken to the airport by Mediceram executives, and an additional six were deported later in November, according to The Daily Star. The remaining workers were allegedly threatened with deportation by the company. Later in November, around 150 of the workers wrote an ‘open letter’ protesting the forced repatriations and urging intervention in the case. The open letter calls for the workers to be transferred to a new employer.

The allegations follow previous reporting of labour rights violations at Mediceram, including wage theft and recruitment fee charging. Reporting says that, while Mediceram refunded the workers’ recruitment fees, the workers’ visas remained expired, which led to repeated protests throughout the year.

According to reporting by ABC News in September 2025, a complaint was lodged with the federal Treasury in Australia (which runs the Australian National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct) against buyer Ansell, alleging a range of abuses at Mediceram, including wage theft, debt bondage and forced labour. Ansell told ABC News that it investigated the allegations and "identified a number of issues that did not meet international labour standards". Mediceram denied the allegations.

In November 2025, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Mediceram, Top Glove, YTY and Ansell to respond to the allegations of dismissal and forced deportations, and to disclose the steps they have taken to investigate and remedy workers for the abuse reported. We also invited the buyers to disclose any human rights due diligence they undertake prior to entering into contracts with suppliers and when monitoring working conditions at suppliers. Responses from Mediceram, Ansell, Top Glove and YTY can be read below.

Later in November, several news outlets reported that around 100 workers employed by Mediceram and another Malaysian company, Kawaguchi Manufacturing, protested in Kuala Lumpur demanding unpaid wages, fair compensation and an end to labour rights abuse (The Associated Press could not immediately reach the companies for comment - see more on abuses at Kawaguchi Manufacturing here, including responses from the buyers).

It was also reported that Ansell suspended its relationship with Mediceram (see Ansell's press release here), and that the workers have filed a police complaint against Mediceram.

Company Responses

YTY Industries View Response
Ansell View Response
Top Glove View Response
MediCeram View Response

Timeline

International Solidarity Campaign: Justice for the 177 Fired Mediceram Workers

Stop Forced Deportations, Passport Confiscations and All Forms of Threats — Defend the Rights of Bangladeshi Migrant Workers Exploited in Malaysia! Issued by international socialist, labour, and youth organisations in solidarity with the workers of Mediceram Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia.

Oleh
pada25/11/2025
suntingan terkini25/11/2025
Bangladeshi workers organizing in protest against slave-like conditions at Mediceram Malaysia, despite repeated criminal actions taken by the employers against them.

Bangladeshi workers organizing in protest against slave-like conditions at Mediceram Malaysia, despite unlawful actions repeatedly taken by the employers against them.

The neoliberal era has seen a dramatic rise in the use of migrant labour in Malaysia. To safeguard the profits of the capitalist class, profits worth billions and to deepen an already extreme wealth divide, both the government and the business elite have upheld policies that push wages to brutally low levels. Migrant workers, trapped in this structure, have become the prime victims of this economic system.

2025 11 25 international solidarity campaign mediceram workers bangladesh malaysia 3 sosialis alternatif International Solidarity Campaign: Justice for the 177 Fired Mediceram Workers Sosialis Alternatif

For decades, countless reports and investigations have exposed the appalling living and working conditions faced by migrant workers — conditions that resemble modern-day slavery. Whenever workers, whether local or migrant, attempt to organise collectively and fight back, their efforts are met with intimidation, threats, and retaliation from employers. This culture of “gangsterism” reflects the deep arrogance of bosses who see workers’ demands for dignity and justice as a threat, particularly when it comes to migrant workers who already shoulder immense risks simply by seeking a livelihood abroad.

Since 2017, hundreds of Bangladeshi migrant workers at Mediceram Sdn. Bhd., a ceramic mould factory supplying glove manufacturers in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, have faced systematic exploitation. The company supplies multinational brands such as Ansell, Top Glove and YTY, yet the workers themselves endured unpaid wages, confiscated passports, expired work permits, and threats whenever they attempted to assert their rights.

Workers were forced to pay recruitment fees of RM22,500 (around US$4,800) to agents and human trafficking syndicates, a blatant violation of international labour standards and Malaysian labour laws. After months of deception, intimidation and broken promises, these workers finally took the courageous step of organising collectively. Since 2023, the workers, through the leadership of their committee, have repeatedly carried out strike actions to resist exploitation by Mediceram’s management. To date, we have been informed that approximately 15 strikes have taken place, with the most recent one held on 22 October 2025.

On 31 October 2025, 177 Bangladeshi workers engaged in collective strike action were summarily dismissed, their visas cancelled, and members of the workers’ committee were forcibly deported to Bangladesh. Workers themselves have testified that the company used outright “gangster tactics” to force them into vehicles and push them out to the airport. As we write this statement, the company is involuntarily deporting more workers back to their home country, even though their case is still ongoing under the Industrial Relations Department.

Workers’ Demands

Through their workers’ committee and legal representatives, the workers filed official complaints with the Labour Department (JTK), Industrial Relations Department (JPP), and the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. Yet they were met with indifference, bureaucratic negligence, and even intimidation — with officials reportedly telling them to “apologise to the employer and return to work” after holding private discussions with company representatives.

2025 11 25 international solidarity campaign mediceram workers bangladesh malaysia 4 sosialis alternatif International Solidarity Campaign: Justice for the 177 Fired Mediceram Workers Sosialis Alternatif

The workers’ demands are legitimate, reasonable, and grounded in law:

  • Transfer all dismissed workers to other employers in Malaysia with valid work permits.
  • Immediately stop all forced deportations of Mediceram workers — and reinstate work permits for those already deported to Bangladesh.
  • Conduct a full investigation into Mediceram Sdn. Bhd. for labour rights violations, deception and threats — and blacklist the company from hiring Bangladeshi workers.
  • Pay all outstanding wages, overtime, and recruitment fees — including for workers who have already been deported.
  • Ensure accountability and transparency from the Bangladesh High Commission, which has failed to protect its citizens and has been accused of corruption and negligence.
  • Guarantee the safety, dignity and lawful employment of all affected workers.

2025 11 25 international solidarity campaign mediceram workers bangladesh malaysia 5 sosialis alternatif International Solidarity Campaign: Justice for the 177 Fired Mediceram Workers Sosialis Alternatif

A Wider Struggle: Fighting Capitalist Exploitation and State Failure

The Mediceram case exposes the reality faced by millions of migrant workers across the world — trapped within a global supply chain that profits from their exploitation. The struggle of the Mediceram workers is a collective, legitimate act of resistance — a powerful tactic that reveals the oppression they face inside the workplace.

This oppression is not accidental. It is a direct consequence of a capitalist system that prioritises profit above the wellbeing of the working class. The workers’ fight is not only an economic issue but also a political one. It is tied to human trafficking networks, corrupt labour intermediaries, and state structures that refuse to protect the working class. Their struggle crosses national boundaries — demanding international working-class solidarity, militant organisation, and unity across industries and nations.

Our Call

We, the socialist, labour, and youth organisations endorsing this statement, demand:

  • An immediate halt to all forced deportations of Mediceram workers.
  • Full justice and compensation for all dismissed and deported workers.
  • The immediate return of confiscated passports used as tools of intimidation.
  • Re-employment and legal work permits for workers who were forcibly deported, enabling them to work for new employers in Malaysia.
  • Full transparency and accountability from the Malaysian government and the Bangladesh High Commission, with firm action against Mediceram.
  • The restoration of workers’ rights to organise freely and defend themselves.
  • Active involvement by Malaysian trade union leaders to build networks of solidarity that prevent such abuses from ever recurring.

We demand that the Malaysian government, particularly the Department of Industrial Relations and the Department of Labour, take action to resolve the crisis faced by Bangladeshi workers who have been exploited and oppressed under the management of local agents and Malaysian companies. We also call on the Government of Bangladesh, especially the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, to urgently act on the official appeal submitted by the Mediceram Workers’ Committee on 6 November 2025, which demands investigation, compensation, and justice.

International Solidarity and Action

We urge trade unions, socialist organisations, and workers’ movements worldwide to:

  • Send solidarity letters to the Malaysia Embassy or High Commission in your country, supporting the Mediceram workers’ demands.
  • Organise protests, pickets, or solidarity photo actions at Malaysia embassies.
  • Share statements, reports and testimonies about the workers’ struggle.
  • Pressure multinational companies such as Ansell, Top Glove and YTY to take responsibility for labour abuses in their supply chains.

For Justice, Dignity and International Socialism

The Mediceram workers have displayed extraordinary courage in the face of oppression. Their stand is not only for themselves, but for the entire international working class subjected to the same system. Certainly, as a Marxist organisation, we recognise that these systemic problems cannot be resolved through political pressure alone, but only through a transformation toward a social order that serves the vast majority of the working class worldwide through the taking over of industries under workers’ control and the building of socialism. This initiative represents the spirit of internationalism, built through cooperation and support from workers’ organisations across the world.

  • Transfer the Mediceram workers to a new company!
  • Stop Forced Deportations Now!
  • Justice for Migrant Workers Everywhere!
  • No to Capitalism — Fight for a Socialist System!

Issued by:
International Solidarity Campaign for Mediceram Workers
(Coordinated by Jaringan Solidariti Pekerja, Sosialis Alternatif, and international partner organisations)
Email / Contact: sosialisalternatif@gmail.com / +60176652127 - Sosialis Alternatif Website

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