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The Ipoh Barat MP said the Nepali security guard’s death could have been avoided if he had been treated earlier. When he arrived at the hospital, he was found to be at a late stage of Covid-19 infection.
Urging Putrajaya to work towards improving working conditions in Malaysia, Kula said there has been a lot of disregard for International Labour Organization (ILO) declarations on equality through decent working conditions although Malaysia has agreed to them in 2019.
“In conversations with people from various industries, I hear about incidents where foreign workers who are sick are not given immediate medical attention, sometimes leading to unnecessary death.
“Many foreign workers do not have their own transportation and have to walk long distances to seek medical attention. They cannot afford to fall sick because they cannot afford hospital charges, which are higher for foreigners,” he said.
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He urged Putrajaya to work closely with the ILO to improve working conditions in Malaysia, pointing out that the nation had signed its first Decent Work Country Programme for 2019 to 2025 under the Pakatan Harapan government.
Kula said corporations employing migrant workers should be thoroughly assessed to ensure that proper housing and decent living conditions are being provided for them.
Emergency response procedures must also be put in place to prevent situations of negligence similar to the one that led to the Top Glove worker’s death, he said.
“In the context of Covid-19, the pertinent question is: how many more foreign workers have been infected just like this security guard? Was he the only one admitted at the last minute and could not be saved?
“The health of Malaysian workers who work with these foreign workers has also been put in jeopardy due to this neglect,” he added.
In December 2018, Kula, then human resources minister, had defended Top Glove against claims that its employees were being overworked and faced unsuitable conditions.
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