733 Bangladeshi workers who were deceived into coming to Pengerang, Johor, for non-existent jobs have successfully claimed over RM1mil in unpaid wages from their supposed employers, the Human Resources Ministry announced on Thursday (Feb 8).
The workers and their employers reached a mutual agreement for the payment of RM1,035,557.50 in wages to the respective workers after proceedings carried out by Johor Labour Department officers, according to the ministry.
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The ministry stated that the conclusion of this case would set a precedent for future labour cases and cautioned other employers in the country to take heed.
It warned that any employers found guilty of neglecting legally brought foreign workers and not providing them with employment would be blacklisted by the authorities, with their quotas for foreign workers being cancelled. The ministry emphasized that it would not compromise on any parties that violate labour laws.
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The ministry also announced that the workers would now be matched with new employers through a special employer exchange process facilitated by the labour department.
On Jan 16, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim had revealed that 751 Bangladeshi workers in Pengerang had been left stranded and jobless in the country after being deceived by employers to enter Malaysia. The workers had filed a RM2.21mil claim for unpaid wages from their employers.
The ministry has not commented on the discrepancy in the number of workers and the claim amount.
