Bangladeshi Migrant Workers Demand Justice and Compensation in Malaysia
Bangladeshi migrant rights organisations have demanded immediate action to secure justice, fair compensation and overdue wage payments for workers allegedly abused by two Malaysian companies—Mediceram and Kawaguchi. The demand came during a human-chain demonstration held in front of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment in Dhaka, organised by the Migrant Welfare Network (Malaysia) and a Bangladeshi expatriate rights platform.
Speakers likened the workers’ exploitation to modern-day slavery, accusing both the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and the expatriate ministry of failing to protect the victims. Workers at Mediceram say they endured delayed wage payments, threats, physical abuse and poor living conditions for years; their passports were allegedly confiscated and many lost legal work status. Meanwhile, employees of Kawaguchi claim they have faced inconsistent salary payments since 2022, with some going up to seven months unpaid by September 2024. The company reportedly shut down operations leaving roughly 30 lakh ringgit in unpaid wages owed to 251 workers.
The protesters presented seven key demands, including immediate compensation for forcibly-deported Mediceram workers, an end to forced repatriations, assistance relocating affected workers to responsible employers, a hiring ban on Mediceram and its affiliates, full payment of overdue wages by Kawaguchi, reforms to make the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur more migrant-friendly, and a comprehensive overhaul of Bangladesh’s recruitment and migration system prioritising worker rights over remittance generation.
