Why Are Migrant Workers Always Arrested, But Never the Employers?

The Malaysian economy relies on the sweat and toil of migrant workers. Yet, every so often, there will be news about migrant workers who are exploited – underpaid, overworked, passports confiscated, bullied and placed in horrible living conditions. Rarely, if ever, do we hear about employers and recruitment agencies getting arrested for their modern-day slavery practices. Instead, what always ends up happening is the migrant workers themselves, who are already living in poverty and fear, get rounded up and arrested. So, why does this happen? We speak to Charles Santiago, former Klang MP and Co-Chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights(APHR).

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