Malaysia: Bangladeshi & Indian FGV workers' passports allegedly being held & workers say they have been prevented from returning home; incl. co comment
Summary
Date Reported: 6 Apr 2024
Location: Malaysia
Companies
FGV Holdings Berhad - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 10000
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported , Documented migrants ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported , Documented migrants )Issues
Failing to renew visas , Withholding Passports , Restricted mobility , Access to Non-Judicial RemedyResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre & Journalists
Story containing response: (Find out more)
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: FGV vehemently denied these accusations, asserting that workers' passports were safely stored and that they were entitled to terminate contracts at any time. FGV defended its practices, emphasizing the efficiency of the "Suara Kami" complaint mechanism and the provision of various channels for workers to express their grievances. FGV disputed that 10,000 workers were impacted, instead saying 2,101 workers were impacted. The Resource Centre reached to FGV, LRQA/ Elevate (which developed the Suara Kami grievance mechanism with FGV) to invite them to respond to allegations. We received responses from FGV and LRQA.
Source type: News outlet
“FGV says only 2,101 workers experienced delays in permit renewal”
…FGV Holdings Bhd has dismissed claims that 10,000 of its foreign workers have experienced delays in the renewal of their work permits, saying only 2,101 employees were affected.
The agri-business and food company said the delay was due to a backlog in the processing of applications and the issuance of check-out memos by the immigration department for workers to return home.
“FGV is working closely with the immigration department to expedite the renewals and issuance of check-out memos.
“We expect to resolve it by the fourth quarter of this year. This delay is the leading cause of why affected migrant workers were not able to return home for vacation,” FGV told FMT.
FGV also denied retaining the passports and personal documents of its workers, saying employees are given individual lockers for the safekeeping of these papers…
NGOs and activist Andy Hall recently claimed that 10,000 passports belonging to FGV workers were being held by immigration pending the renewal of their work permits.
The workers also complained that the company had prevented them from returning home after completing their contract.
The workers, mostly from India and Bangladesh, said they have worked in Malaysia for about five years and have not returned home…