A K M Atiqur Rahman

On 30 January, some local dailies published reports on the detention of migrants working illegally in Malaysia. Those reports mentioned that in the first 28 days of January, Malaysian immigration authorities conducted 870 raids and detained 4,026 migrant workers for not having valid documents. There were about one thousand Bangladeshis among them. Though the Malaysian government rarely takes any legal action against their employers for employing illegal migrants, this time 42 employers have been arrested.

For various reasons, Malaysia has become an attractive destination for illegal migrant workers, especially workers from Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Usually, they go to Malaysia on a tourist visa and stay even after the visa expires. In this case, the migrants of their respective countries working there also extend their cooperation in finding jobs for them.

Local employers take advantage of this situation as there is a demand for workers in the country and illegal workers are available with low wages. Malaysian government is well aware of this fact and therefore, conducts such operations as 'routine work'. Detainees are fined, jailed or repatriated to their home country. Sometimes 'legalisation' programmes are undertaken considering the huge number of illegal migrants and the local demand.

Illegal migrant workers generally come from three sources – (a) foreign nationals who come to Malaysia on tourist or short-stay visas and do not return, (b) run away from their place of employment in search of higher wages/benefits and (c) stay in Malaysia illegally without returning to their country after the expiry of the contract period. However, the number of illegal migrants who come on tourist or short-term visas is higher than those who come on work visas but become illegal for other reasons.

They enter Malaysia by obtaining tourist visas through brokers from Malaysian embassies abroad. Bangladeshis going to work in Malaysia under the guise of tourists collect visas from the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka through brokers. Sometimes brokers accompany them up to Malaysia and desert them there.

This is nothing but human trafficking. The cost of moving abroad illegally is usually less than what a worker needs to spend on legal migration. If the cost of legal migration could be reduced, the prevalence of human trafficking would be greatly reduced.

Furthermore, if Malaysian employers do not employ foreigners illegally staying there, such workers would not be so eager to go there. Due to job opportunities for illegal migrants, people from neighbouring countries including Bangladesh are constantly rushing to Malaysia through various means. Human traffickers also make their pockets heavier. Unfortunately, the fear of being caught and deported to their country always haunts them. Sometimes, their lives are also threatened.

These illegal migrant workers adversely affect the normal process of sending our workers to Malaysia. The lower income of illegal migrant workers also reduces our remittances from Malaysia. Undocumented migrant workers resort to hundi as they cannot send money to the country through banking channels. Ultimately our economy is affected.

In view of the ongoing situation, our authority may consider the following: (1) Aware the people about the dangers of staying in Malaysia once a tourist visa expires. Aspirant foreign job seekers should not fall victim to any temptation other than the arrangements of the government. (2) Adopt and implement a migrant-friendly recruitment process. If the cost of legal migration could be reduced, human trafficking would automatically decrease. (3) Create employment opportunities in the country for the poor, socially insecure and vulnerable groups suffering from economic discrimination.

(4) Take necessary measures to ensure that no agency or broker tempts any citizen of the country to send them to Malaysia without a work visa. Legal action should be taken as soon as involvement in such activities is found. (5) Government officials and employees especially those who work at airports should be properly instructed on this issue. (6) Our Mission will provide them with necessary legal support. The mission will rescue the victims and repatriate them, if necessary. Besides, the mission will identify those responsible for this situation and inform the concerned ministry of necessary measures. (7) Sending workers in this way should be treated as human trafficking and the traffickers should be punished. (8) Care must be taken that no person with such intention of staying there is included in the Bangladeshi team participating in any programmes (cultural event, trade fair or NGO programme) held in Malaysia.
____________________________________
The writer is a former Ambassador and Secretary