KUALA LUMPUR – A senior police official has insisted Malaysia’s forced labour issue is not “out of control”, despite companies facing US sanctions over alleged slavery.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) D3 assistant director Azry Akmar Ayob told Reuters that labour issues concerning exploitation are not widespread.
“I don’t think the seriousness of forced labour in Malaysia is out of control,” he was quoted as saying.
“Most of the cases happen because of the lack of knowledge by the company owners (on issues of forced labour) and the companies neglecting to produce a better condition for workers to work in.”
However, he said police received 62 cases of forced labour last year, and fewer than 10 this year. The cases, he added, were mostly in the services and manufacturing sectors.
He said the issues concerned the abuse of vulnerable workers, restriction of movement and withholding of travel, identity documents and wages.
Azry Akmar was quoted as saying that individuals and companies are involved in such cases, but he did not disclose their identities.
The US authorities have banned three Malaysian companies in the past year over allegations of forced labour, as well as abusive working and living conditions.
Canada also launched investigations into similar allegations on Malaysia’s palm oil and glove manufacturing sectors in May.
An earlier report by Reuters said human rights group Finnwatch had accused local palm oil company IOI Corp managers of mistreating workers, forcing them into poor living conditions and imposing high recruitment fees.
The allegation came days after the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told an activist it was investigating the company over claims of forced labour. – The Vibes, June 30, 2021
