Employers who defraud foreign employees face legal action

 An employer who cheated foreign workers on non-existent jobs in Pengerang, Johor, is facing court action for failing to pay more than RM1 million in salary arrears to 733 Bangladeshi.

The Ministry of Human Resources said in a statement that the company failed to comply with the instructions of the Department of Manpower in Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) in the proceedings on Feb 5 to pay arrears of wages of RM1,035,557.50 within 45 days.

“The Johor Manpower Department (JTK) is currently in the process of enforcing the order of the Industrial Court by prosecuting the employer in the Sessions Court in accordance with Section S69(4) of the Employment Act 1955 which if found guilty can be fined RM50,000 for each offense and must pay arrears employee.”

The media previously reported the revelation by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Institutional Reform), Azalina Othman Said, that an estimated 2,500 foreign workers were defrauded by companies and employment agents in Pengerang.

They include 171 foreign workers in a viral video who walked into a police station to report being duped by agents.

The FMT portal reported, then revealed that more than 90 Bangladeshi in Kajang faced the same fate, with some of them paying RM20,000 to the agent, but not getting the promised job.

The Ministry of Human Resources said, 10 investigation papers were opened on the company involved, with four getting permission to prosecute and the rest for further instructions.

He said the foreign worker quota for the company was canceled and the employer involved was blacklisted from applications for new foreign workers, while 692 foreign workers were given jobs through a special employer change process (PTM).