IPOH: About 55 foreign workers, believed to be victims of exploitation, were rescued from a furniture company in Lahat.
Perak Labour Department director Mohd Nizar Zakaria said the victims, which included 32 from Bangladesh, 14 Myanmar nationals, and nine Nepalese, aged between 19 and 45, were rescued during an Ops Mega Pintas operation on Thursday (May 8).
Mohd Nizar said the victims' employer failed to provide appropriate accommodation, violating Section 24(D) of the Workers Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act.
"The employer has also committed multiple offences under the Employment Act, including Section 19 for late salary payment, Section 60K for failure to report foreign workers' employment, and Section 24 for unauthorised salary deductions.
"Other offences included Regulation 8 for absence of employment contracts and Section 90B for forced labour practices," he told reporters after the raid on May 8.
"Apart from the foreigners, we also rescued six locals aged between 35 and 60," he added.
Nizar said the workers have not received their salaries for the past five months, and the foreign workers have had their passports withheld by the employer.
Authorities are now gathering statements from all the workers to determine the duration of exploitation and whether the employer complied with the minimum wage of RM1,700.
"The police have opened an investigation under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670).
"The Environment Department will also take necessary action regarding the unsafe factory conditions," he added.
Meanwhile, Perak police chief Comm Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said the raid was carried out based on public information about the workers’ struggles.
He said the company's 58-year-old managing director has been arrested.
"The foreign workers will be transferred to a protection centre in Melaka within 24 hours.
"We urge all employers not to mistreat their employees and to uphold their responsibilities while adhering to the law," he added.
