THE room is narrow and, as described by Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan, like a buffalo cage, dirty and smelly. That is the real situation of the hostel. The minister was shocked after inspecting the living conditions of foreign workers at a glove-processing factory at Batu 13 Cheras, Kajang.
The raid was carried out by 60 members of the Labour Department, Health Ministry, police and Kajang Municipal Council.
The workers were ‘piled up’ into two long 1.5m tall container, which are used as rooms.
The container is supposed to accommodate only 100 people at a time but 751 were living in one.
Saravanan says it is one of the worst living conditions he had ever seen.
“I call this ‘modern slavery’. I’m very sad to see such conditions… although we have seen it during British colonisation,” Saravanan was quoted as saying by Astro Awani.
He also dismisses the company’s denial that its workers are living in squalid conditions.
Saravanan told Malaysiakini it is common for any employer to issue a denial when faced with allegations of modern slavery.
“Let them say what they want to say. We have enough evidence to enforce the rule of law.
“It is normal for an employer to deny. That will (only) force us to publish more pictures of the condition. Anyway, we had enough media during the visit.”
Glovemakers have enjoyed record profits in the pandemic. Unfortunately, the rewards have not trickled down to the workers. – December 22, 2020.
A group of foreign workers queuing up to take their bath at a workers’ hostel in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.A foreign worker running up to the hostel at the glove factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.Foreign workers resting and sleeping in the cramped room at the hostel provided by the glove factory at Batu 13 Cheras In Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.Uniforms hanging in the changing room at the glove factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.A canteen worker providing food for workers at the glove factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.Workers packing the gloves into a box at the factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.Workers inspecting gloves in the factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.A worker inspecting gloves in the factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.A worker drying the gloves using a machine at the glove factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.A foreign worker walking back to his room at the hostel after taking a bath at the glove factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.Undocumented foreign workers escorted out of the hostel at the glove factory at Batu 13 Cheras in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.A foreign worker resting in his cramped room at the hostel provided by the glove factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.A foreign worker walking downstairs from the hostel provided by the glove factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.Civil Defence Force officers checking room to room in search of undocumented foreign workers at the hostel in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.A Labour Department officer checking undocumented foreign workers at the glove factory in Kajang, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 22, 2020.
