Slave Labour in Malaysia
Labour in Malaysia is a widespread problem and many of the most recognisable brands today have been the product of forced labour and have components sourced from Malaysia. This means that virtually every device today may has come in contact with modern-day slavery. A 2014 report by Verite, an NGO focused on labour issues, found that foreign workers are especially vulnerable to exploitation with one in three foreign workers surveyed in Malaysian electronics in a condition of forced labour.
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A factor which greatly contributes to the problem of forced labour in Malaysia is the excessive recruitment fees required from workers on the commencement of their employment forcing them into debt and making them to work indefinitely. Information regarding wages, hours, difficulty level and safety risks as well as specific information about the termination of the job, are frequently omitted and manipulated. Once in the workplace migrant workers face further exploitation and abuse due to their inability to leave or change the arrangements before the end of their contract. Verité’s investigations found that workers were forced to live in cramped and dangerous accommodation, that female workers experienced sexual abuse by their supervisors and that in the majority of cases, workers passports were held by their recruitment broker violating their freedom of movement.
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A large number of multinational companies from the US, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea use Malaysia as their manufacturing base. Thousands of people also travel from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Vietnam and other countries travel to Malaysia every year for work.