United Nations experts have raised concerns over the exploitation and mistreatment of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia, urging the Malaysian government to take immediate action to protect their rights and well-being.
In a statement to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), the UN-appointed experts expressed dismay at reports of Bangladeshi migrants being lured to Malaysia with false promises of employment, only to discover they had been deceived by fraudulent recruitment schemes.
The experts highlighted the alarming trend of criminal networks profiting from the recruitment of migrants through deceptive practices, including the creation of fake companies and exorbitant recruitment fees that push migrants into debt bondage.
Upon arrival in Malaysia, many migrants find themselves without the promised employment opportunities, leading to dire living conditions and the risk of arrest, detention, and deportation due to visa overstays.
The situation, according to the experts, is unsustainable and undignified, requiring urgent action from the Malaysian government to address the humanitarian crisis faced by migrants and prevent further exploitation.
The UN experts called for robust measures to hold accountable those responsible for exploitative recruitment practices, including high-level officials implicated in facilitating or condoning such activities.
They emphasized the need for Malaysia to strengthen its response to labor migration by implementing adequate safeguards and fulfilling its obligations under international human rights frameworks, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Furthermore, the experts urged Malaysia to enhance efforts to identify, protect, and assist victims of exploitation, enforce existing legal protections against trafficking in persons, and uphold its international human rights obligations.
The statement issued by the UN experts underscored the urgency of the situation and the imperative for decisive action to protect the rights and dignity of migrant workers in Malaysia.
The plight of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia has drawn international attention, with migrant rights activists and organizations advocating for greater accountability and measures to address the root causes of exploitation and abuse.