Migrant Watch

FORCED LABOUR IN BURMA, CHEAP LABOUR IN MALAYSIA

(By Banya Hongsar)

Penang, September 19, 2003 -- Thousands of teenagers who fled from Burma to Malaysia through Thailand to avoid forced labor and porter-duty are now the victims of cheap labor practices in the host country. These migrant workers who lack formal training and information about employment and the democracy struggle are now leaving Malaysia. The majority could not find jobs and were forced to return Thailand in order to survive.

Over a hundred thousand Burmese nationals are working in Malaysia without work permits or other valid documents. Many of them eat on the ground and sleep in the bushes. They heard about "democracy" at home but know nothing about their rights and employment regulations in Malaysia. Undocumented workers from southern Burma told their stories to Kao Wao. But the question is who will listen to them?

A banner on the back windshield of a taxi proclaims "Malaysia for Peace". But migrant workers who have been mistreated by bosses and contractors have found no 'peace' at all and some have not been paid for up to six months by local employers who claimed that there was no cash flow from the 'Big Boss'. The majority of the migrant workers know nothing about their rights because they could not access to legal assistance when they are abused by employment contractors.

Many young Mon nationals work at construction sites, small factories and fishery businesses on Penang Island. They can see the Penang skyscrapers from their work sites in the distance but they are afraid to visit them on Sundays fearing arrest by the Malaysian police. Many thousands more who cannot find regular jobs have no choice but to return Thailand with heavy debts.

"I thought I could make more money here than at home. I earn 28-35 ringgit (Malay currency) per day;" said Ko Lay, a former trader from Thanphyu Zayat, in Mon State. Many factory workers like Ko Lay work 10-14 hours per day but have no legal document or work -permit. They have had to keep a supply of cash on hand to bribe police or inspectors as a crackdown on illegal migrants is increasingly making its impact felt. Ko Lay who has three children studying in public schools said he had left his trading business at home earlier this year because he was unable to support the children's education.

Most migrant workers are in their 20s and 30s and lack formal education and employment training at home. Kao Wao asked whether they had heard about the 'trade unions' that exist in overseas countries. They all replied "No". At the construction work sites, VCD/DVDs and CDs are available on the black market but most productions are adult sex and karaoke shows. As they cannot leave the worksites, groups of 6-10 workers buy audio and video sets for entertainment. The few family men feel homesick when they are dumped from their jobs. Sadly, they know nothing about the help available from the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) and other human rights groups.

A few lucky migrant workers find good bosses or employers who pay them regular wages. Three out of ten workers are able to send money back home via the black market money exchanges operated by border based traders. Some single men enjoy a bit of relief by playing cards, smoking cigars and hanging around in the shopping center in the heart of Penang Island. There are a few Burmese shops at the BM Centre where workers can buy Burmese music and other goods from their home country.

Malaysia, like neighboring Thailand, benefited from the valuable contribution of cheap Burmese laborers, after Burma sank down to become an under-developed nation in the 1970 and 80s. A normal wage for an illegal migrant worker is less than 40.00 ringgit (US$ 10.50) per day, but they have to spend at least 15.00 ringgit (US$ 4.00) for food and drink for a day.

"I have saved my wages to get about 300.00 ringgit (US$ 79.00) to send home for my wife and children but I will never make it this year" said Ko Way from Mudon who works as head of the group at the construction site. According to Ko Way, they only can work 3-5 days a week but sometimes they only work for three days because there are no goods or materials for the building.

"I really get upset when my wife calls me to send some money home for the children" said Ko Lar, a building painter. His wife and three kids at home depend on him for a living. He asked, "When will we get democracy?'' Most migrant workers look forward to returning homes and living with their families when Burma becomes a democratic country. .

Burmese migrant workers lack access to information about Burmese politics. They don't have access to the BBC, VOA and other radio channels in Malaysia and long for news from their home country. They asked that newspapers, magazines and labor related information be sent to them. A few migrant workers use mobile telephones to keep in contact with their homes but they can only speak 'non-political conversation' on the phone line. Unfortunately, they cannot send goods to families and parents at home, due to their illegal status in Malaysia since the Burmese authorities seize all goods and packages shipped to Burma without passport numbers on the address label.

According to an Economic Report for 2003-4 in the New Straits Times, the federal government of Malaysia received 42.7% from income taxes. The report said that the government would begin construction of low and medium-cost houses. It indicated that the construction business would prosper for a few years and that there would be a massive demand for labor for the project. Sadly, most migrant workers do not read daily newspapers in either Malay or English for general information.

The long-serving Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohammad said during his remarks on the Supply Bill (2004) in the second week of September, that the National Social Policy had been launched, with the objective of promoting social development based on noble values and self-enrichment to achieve unity and stability.

Burmese migrant workers who left their country not by choice but seeking a chance to feed their families at home have no clue about the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) or about the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Democracy in Burma is a hope for all migrant workers both in Thailand and Malaysia. Burma or Malaysia could not bring democracy and national building process where workers have no rights. The current Rangoon regime, the State Peace and Development Council, proudly announced that most young workers left for Malaysia and Singapore in order to generate income for their homes, but the majority of the workers do not have passports and work permits. They cross Thai and Malaysia border with the help of dealers or human traffickers.

Many end up in the circle without jobs, paying bribes to the police and cheated by the employers. "I have lived here over ten years and I haven't been home," said Nai Shwe, a former boatman from Mon State.