A recent joint statement from Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim announced the government's decision to blacklist a company that had brought 171 Bangladeshi nationals into the country with promises of employment in Johor, only to fail in securing them jobs.
The punitive measures against the company include being barred from applying for new foreign workers and revoking their conditional approval letter. This move also entails the cancellation of the remaining quota of foreign workers allotted to the company, with no refunds on previously paid levies.
Furthermore, the ministries are taking stringent action against the employer under various acts, including the Immigration Act and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act, emphasizing the need for employers to fulfill their responsibilities towards foreign workers.
Saifuddin Nasution highlighted that the implicated party would face consequences under the Employment Act and the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations, and Amenities for Employees Act, signaling a stern approach towards ensuring fair treatment of workers.
Both ministries are committed to monitoring and inspecting employers utilizing the Foreign Worker Employment Flexibility Plan to bring in foreign workers, aiming to prevent similar exploitation incidents in the future.
The decision to blacklist the company followed a meeting held by the Human Resource Ministry on Dec 28, 2023, with the involved party and relevant agencies regarding an alleged job scam incident in Kota Tinggi, Johor. Additionally, a scheduled meeting on Jan 16 between the two ministers will further address proposals to freeze foreign worker employment quota applications and enhance the governance of foreign worker employment in the country.
This action was prompted by a police report filed on Dec 25 last year by 171 Bangladeshi nationals holding valid working permits. They reported being in the country for over three months without securing the promised jobs, highlighting the urgency to address such misconduct and ensure better oversight of employment practices for foreign workers.
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