Malay employers refusing to let foreign workers go home

KUALA LUMPUR - Over 150,000 foreign workers employed in restaurants and coffee shops are unable to return home because their Malay employers are holding on to their passports, the Star quoted Malaysia Trade Union Congress (MTUC) officials, as saying yesterday.

MTUC vice-president A. Balasubra­maniam claimed that the workers did not intend to overstay after the expiry of their visas, but were being exploited by their employers, who held on to their passports and refused to renew their expired visas.

“The MTUC proposes that the Government grants a special amnesty for this group to return to their countries of origin,” he added.

Balasubramaniam also alleged that restaurant owners were not serious in employing locals and that this was reflected in their half-hearted attempts to provide meagre salaries with unfavourable work conditions. (ANI)