A human rights group claims that two labour recruitment companies in Cambodia had sent 24 domestic workers to Malaysia.
October 17, 2011
DPA
PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian human rights group said two labour recruitment companies sent at least 25 domestic workers to Malaysia early today, apparently breaching a ban signed over the weekend by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Mathieu Pellerin, a consultant with the rights group LICADHO, said he had spoken with groups totalling 25 women at the Phnom Penh airport, adding that recruitment agents from the companies had confirmed their destination and work.
“It is shocking and very disappointing to see what these two companies have done,” Pellerin said. “The ban is very clear: a suspension on recruitment and on sending domestic workers.”
Hun Sen signed an order on Saturday that suspended sending maids to Malaysia after numerous reports of abuses. An estimated 15 percent of Malaysia’s 320,000 domestic workers are Cambodian.
Senior officials from the Labour Ministry were not available to comment, but Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, confirmed Hun Sen’s order was in effect.
LICADHO, which is the French acronym for the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights, said seven of the women were from Top Manpower, whose owner chairs the Association of Cambodian Recruitment Agencies, an industry body. The other 18 were from International Investment Service Co Ltd.
LICADHO said a staffer from Top Manpower claimed the seven women and all other trainees at the company were exempt from the ban because they had signed contracts prior to its enactment.
Pellerin said the incident also raised questions about immigration officers, given that the women were easily identifiable, wearing matching T-shirts with company logos.
Cambodian opposition parliamentarians have this year highlighted the abuse of domestic workers in Malaysia. Rights groups have long complained that foreign maids in Malaysia lack protection under labour laws, and last week, a police raid freed dozens of underage recruits at T&P Co Ltd, a Cambodian labour recruitment firm that has since been shut down.
The ban, which has been condemned by maid placement agencies, could exacerbate Malaysia’s ongoing labour shortage. It came on the heels of a similar ban instituted by Indonesia two years ago.
6 comments:
LICADHO sound did not heard or knew the business agreement or contract.
It need some more days until the agent receive the official letter from the authority.
Ban only for the new recruitment-
Hun Sen's slave master is making the whole Cambodian population as slave of Viet, Thai, Malaysia, etc.
That how ah Kwach have done along since 1993! say and signe one thing the the international community and do something alle to the Cambodian!
Remember the coup?
The drug traficking?
The human traficking?
The land grabing?
The human abuse?
The killing?
On and on!
these two recruitment agency should be banned from cambodia for violating the ban!
This ban of migrant workers to Malaysia is not a good solution to those poor Cambodian maids. The NGO and opposition PM brought out the abuse cases in Malaysia. Now this stupid Husen orders to ban these migrants workers to Malaysia without careful thinking what is alternative employment for these poor women who need to find food for their children. A helpful monitor on every Cambodian migrant works from the Cambodia embassy in Malaysia would ensure these workers will not be abused. Migrant works could face abuse in any country, but Husen lacks the ability to protect Cambodians. Banning these poor women to be employed seems to be the simplest solution for Hunsen’s thinking.
4:31 AM
"This ban of migrant workers to Malaysia is not a good solution to those poor Cambodian maids"
Disagree. This is the only choice that we have until the Malaysian government takes more responsibility of their recruitment agencies. The report also outline the required conditions for the Malaysian Government. Until they are met, the ban of our migrant workers should be imposed at full capacity, without the hard work of Ms Sochua Mu, our migrant workers will be raped and murdered without any justice.
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