Latest news with #Tenaganita
Malaysiakini
27-06-2025
- Malaysiakini
No one should die behind closed doors, in silence, servitude
COMMENT | Tenaganita and fellow civil-society organisations denounce the brutal murder of a domestic worker in 2021 by her employers, who have now been sentenced to 34 years in prison. This horrific act of cruelty, committed by a former MasterChef Malaysia finalist and her ex-husband, is not an isolated incident; it is part of a disturbing and persistent pattern of violence, abuse, and systemic neglect that has plagued the lives of domestic workers in Malaysia for decades. We remember Adelina Lisao, Nirmala Bonat, Siami, Siti Hajar, Mariance Kabu, Mautik Hani, and so many others who suffered severe abuse, neglect, and death in Malaysian homes. The murder in Penampang is yet another name added to this shameful roll call. It is a sobering reminder that in the absence of meaningful protection, domestic workers remain among the most vulnerable and dehumanised workers in our country.
Malay Mail
27-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Citing ‘systemic neglect', rights groups demand Domestic Workers Bill after murder of Sabah housekeeper by MasterChef finalist
KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — A coalition of rights groups have urged the government to expedite tabling the Domestic Workers Bill, following up on repeated calls to institute legal safeguards as migrant labourers in the country continue to face abuse and dehumanisation. The group said in a joint statement that the recent abuse and killing of a domestic worker was not an isolated incident, but a 'part of a disturbing and persistent pattern of violence, abuse, and systemic neglect that has plagued the lives of domestic workers in Malaysia for decades.' 'We remember Adelina Lisao, Nirmala Bonat, Siami, Siti Hajar, Meriance Kabu, Mautik Hani, and so many others who suffered severe abuse, neglect, and death in Malaysian homes,' the coalition said. 'The murder in Penampang is yet another name added to this shameful roll call. It is a sobering reminder that in the absence of meaningful protection, domestic workers remain among the most vulnerable and dehumanised workers in our country.' Last week, the High Court in Kota Kinabalu sentenced a couple to 34 years imprisonment for the torture and murder of 28 year-old domestic worker Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin. One of the pair, Etiqah Siti Norashikeen Mohd Sulong, was a finalist of the hit TV show MasterChef Malaysia. Her now ex-husband, Mohammad Ambree Yunos @ Unos, 44, was also convicted. Tenaganita, the lead-organisation undersigning the joint statement, said the Malaysian government has continued to ignore appeals to recognise domestic work as work, with equal rights and protections under the Employment Act. 'Despite repeated cases of death, torture, and trafficking, the Malaysian government has continued to drag its feet. Words of concern are issued, promises are made, but little to no structural change has taken place,' it said. 'The brutality inflicted on this young female worker, prolonged, intentional, and inhumane did not occur in a vacuum,' the group added. 'It was made possible by a legal system that fails to recognise domestic workers as workers, a culture that tolerates control and domination behind closed doors, and an enforcement regime that allows perpetrators to act with impunity.' Past and current administrations have also refused to remove discriminatory provisions in the First Schedule of the Act that exclude domestic workers from rest days, maternity protection, working hour limits, and redress. The group said there must be a standalone legislation for domestic workers that guarantees decent work, legal remedies, and employer accountability.
The Star
26-06-2025
- The Star
Domestic workers in Malaysia: We cannot afford to wait for another death
'NO one should die behind closed doors, in silence, in servitude.' Tenaganita and fellow civil society organisations denounce the brutal murder of a domestic worker in 2021 by her employers, who have now been sentenced to 34 years in prison. This horrific act of cruelty, committed by a former MasterChef Malaysia finalist and her ex-husband, is not an isolated incident, it is part of a disturbing and persistent pattern of violence, abuse, and systemic neglect that has plagued the lives of domestic workers in Malaysia for decades. Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/month RM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters. Free Trial For new subscribers only
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Time of India
Fake job agents lure rural tamil nadu youth overseas despite police crackdowns
It was only when he found himself trapped in a restaurant in Malaysia, his passport confiscated, that R Balasubramaniam, a parotta master from Pudukkottai in rural Tamil Nadu, realised his dream of a better life overseas was hijacked by a fake job agent. For the 29-year-old, the cost of that 'job' was ₹6 lakh — the average sum racketeers in Tamil Nadu charge young men and women from rural areas for employment in Singapore, Dubai, Eastern Europe, Laos, and Myanmar. Despite repeated raids, including a recent crackdown in Melur municipality of Madurai district, where hundreds of passports were seized from unregistered recruiting agencies, the illegal job network continues to flourish, particularly in villages around Trichy, Madurai, Kanyakumari, and Tirunelveli, where thousands of hopefuls look abroad for better prospects. "Even engineers fall for the scams," says a police officer from Madurai. "In Melur, we found that graduates were offered fake BPO jobs. Most never got placed. Their processing fee simply vanished." The agencies, say police, lure victims with the promise of high-paying jobs abroad. They forge documents, use fake registration numbers, and in many cases, collect passports and large sums as 'processing fees' before disappearing. Police register cases and sometimes recover documents, but many of these investigations are quietly closed or settled without naming the culprits. This lack of transparency discourages victims from coming forward and emboldens scamsters to continue. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai A police officer says the agents often send workers on tourist visas, bypassing formal channels. Once abroad, the workers become undocumented and unprotected. Many are forced to work at eateries, construction sites, or in cybercrime rackets (mainly in Myanmar and Cambodia). According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), all overseas job placements must be processed through registered agents via official portals, such as But on the ground, unlicensed agents operate with impunity, says a police officer. "An Indian national can be recruited for a job abroad through a recruiting agent registered under the Emigration Act, 1983, or by an employer with a valid permit issued by the protector general of emigrants. But go to any tea shop or bus stand in rural Tamil Nadu, you'll find overseas job posters stuck everywhere," says Alwin Jose, an activist from Kanyakumari who works with migrant workers who returned to India. Those who return are forced into katta panchayats or informal settlements between trafficker and family rather than seek proper legal action, says Jose. "Police don't pursue traffickers seriously," he adds. K alidas Ramasamy of Tenaganita, a Malaysian human rights non-profit organisation, says most of those rescued are from rural Tamil Nadu. Serbia, Romania, and Poland are emerging as new hotspots, says Jose. Job-seekers are promised legal construction work but usually end up stranded, without wages or valid visas. "These countries are harder to monitor. The routes are often longer via Dubai, Turkey, or Thailand. Families usually realise something is wrong only when it's too late," says Jose. M Rajkumar, protector of emigrants (PoE) for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, says only registered agencies can operate legally. "They need to pay ₹50 lakh as bank guarantee and ₹8 lakh as insurance. If something goes wrong, we can compensate. But with unregistered agents, there's no mechanism to act swiftly." About 500 agencies are registered with PoE in Tamil Nadu, of which 200 are active and renewed their licences. The PoE office recently launched the "Paathu Ponga" (Be Aware) campaign, warning of job scams, particularly in data entry and IT-related fields in Southeast Asia, which often lead to cyber slavery. "We've conducted awareness drives in Chennai and plan to expand to southern districts. We're also working on improving coordination between police and PoE offices to ensure victims get help in time," says Rajkumar. Email your feedback to
Free Malaysia Today
19-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
74 Bangladeshi workers win RM1.5mil in claims over unpaid wages
A file pic showing a workers' dormitory. The 74 workers claimed they were left stranded in Malaysia with no work or wages and had to endure poor living conditions. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A group of Bangladeshi workers has won more than RM1.5 million in claims from their former employer due to unpaid wages and other breaches of their employment contracts. The Kuala Lumpur labour office had ordered Meranti Binamas Sdn Bhd to pay RM1.54 million to the 74 workers, who had lodged complaints through migrant rights group Tenaganita. In a statement, Tenaganita official Abdul Aziz Ismail said this was a 'significant payout' and a major win for migrant rights which showed that employers could be held accountable for breaching the rights of foreign workers. 'It has been a long road but we finally have a decision and an order from the labour office. By ordering Meranti Binamas to pay the amounts due, the labour department has sent a clear message that employers cannot exploit workers with impunity. 'This is a significant achievement for the workers and for Tenaganita. It sets yet another precedent that even large, seemingly untouchable companies can be held accountable when workers stand united and demand justice,' he said. Aziz urged the government to ensure the RM1.5 million is paid out in full quickly. It was reported that the workers paid up to RM25,000 each to secure jobs but were left stranded in Malaysia with no work or wages and enduring poor living conditions after arriving here. The workers had stayed in a crowded hostel in Pudu, KL, and went months without pay, with some said to have had suicidal thoughts. The labour department's order is separate from a case now before the Shah Alam High Court. In that suit, 33 workers are seeking RM1.71 million in damages, including the RM25,000 they each paid in fees to get to Malaysia and 18 months of wages they say they never received. They also want the court to declare them victims of job fraud and to bar the immigration department from detaining or deporting them until the case is disposed of. The suit names Meranti Binamas, the human resources ministry secretary-general, the immigration director-general, and the government as defendants. It was filed in March and is ongoing.
