Around 190 Bangladeshi Migrant Workers at Mediceram Dismissed for Demanding Fair and Dignified Working Conditions
…Mediceram Sdn. Bhd., a company producing ceramic moulds for the glove industry and a supplier to multinational brands such as Ansell, YTY, and Top Glove, has been accused of exploiting migrant workers since 2017. These workers were recruited through human trafficking syndicates, as confirmed by multiple media investigations and international bodies, including the United Nations.
At the time we issued our earlier solidarity statement, the workers had already gone on strike for the third time, demanding full repayment of the exorbitant recruitment fees that had been unjustly imposed upon them.
The migrant workers at Mediceram have been forced to live under conditions akin to modern-day slavery — their passports confiscated, wages withheld or inconsistently paid, work visas left unprocessed, and threats of arrest used to intimidate them. They endure deplorable living conditions and constant insecurity.
Over the years, the workers have organised nearly eight or nine protests. Each time they acted collectively, the employer made promises to settle outstanding debts and meet the workers’ demands — promises that were repeatedly broken. Even the involvement of government agencies such as the Department of Labour has failed to bring meaningful pressure or decisive action to resolve the workers’ claims…