Foreign workers sent home

I have absolutely nothing against Bangladeshi workers. However, having read that our country’s economy is about to nosedive, and that foreign workers should be the first to be laid off (as per the Employment Act), and then later to read that 70,000 new Bangladeshis are set to come to Malaysia, I must say that our country is indeed run by fickle leaders.

Okay, I am being a little coy… It has nothing to do whatsoever with fickle leaders. It’s to do with the fact that when it comes to foreign workers, two separate ministries are involved, namely the Ever-So-Powerful Home Ministry vs. the Human Resources Ministry. Why this is the case, who knows?

But anyway, sad to say that these tens of thousands of Bangladeshis have sold their land, borrowed money, taken loans and just basically sold themselves (about RM9,000 to 10,000 each) just for the visa.  This amount goes to the outsourcing companies. Outsourcing labour sounds like a good industry to get into. Except, you need to get registered, and there are 250 registered outsourcing companies in Malaysia already. And it has been reported that these sums most likely will not be refundable.

The visas for the Bangladeshis were revoked late on Tuesday 10th March 2009.

But honestly, did the Home Ministry think there wouldn’t be an outcry?

Kind of like the fish container situation…