Published: Sunday July 29, 2012 MYT 4:08:00 PM

400 Bangladesh workers claim cheated by 6P agent

ALOR SETAR: Some 400 Bangladeshi workers claimed that they were cheated by an employment agent and asked the authorities to intervene.

Spokesman Sirajul Haque Kazi said they had engaged a construction company to obtain job permits during the second phase 6P programme launched by the government earlier this year.

He said that they reached agreement with an agent for the company who asked for RM3,500 each and their passports. They also each paid RM3,000 in advance.

"Recently, the agent told us that the fees have increased to RM4,200 and refused to hand over our passports if his demands are not met," Sirajul told Bernama after a peaceful protest with 50 others in front of the agent's house in Lorong Wan Mat Saman here.

Sirajul said that they could not afford to pay more to the agent and would have to find jobs with low wages as their illegal status would be exploited by employers.

"I urge authorities to intervene and help us solve this problem. We came here to work legally 5 to 18 years ago. Some have married locals and have children," he added.

The workers lodged a police report against the agent and construction company at Alor Setar police station on July 25.

The 6P programme involves the registration, legalisation, amnesty, monitoring, enforcement and deportation of illegal immigrants to avoid identity and document fraud. - Bernama

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