PETALING JAYA: A company is providing a one-stop online application system that deals with foreign workers’ welfare management centres, labour supply, counselling services and even immigration detention camps.
There’s only one problem.
The foreign missions here have no knowledge about this company or its services.
Indonesian ambassador Hermono has denied any involvement with the company as far as the republic’s migrant workers in Malaysia are concerned.
His office is now considering action against the company for using the country’s national emblem.
“They don’t have authority to put our logo without permission from the embassy. We will take action as our logo is there (on the website) without our permission,” he told The Star.
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The company claims to be acting as a “support organisation” to attend to the welfare of foreign workers by providing links to “embassies and authorities” here.
It claims to have an online registry for details of foreign workers, an electronic link-up to the Malaysian authorities, and an online complaint reporting system.
It also claims to have a portal to handle reports and complaints and says it communicates with embassies, ministries and agents.
Although not spelt out, it appears as if the company is providing middleman services between authorities such as the Immigration Department and the offices of several embassies of foreign labour-source countries. The company claims to have a database of those detained by immigration.
Among the source countries listed on the website are Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
Industry players have also denied any knowledge of the company and its services.
“I cross-checked with labour groups and they denied knowing anything about the company. Why are they providing such services when there are other migrant groups that are already providing such services without a fee?” asked a stakeholder.
A purported agreement bearing the signatures of the company’s managing director and an officer of a Nepal government agency – to provide welfare services and protect migrant workers from Nepal here – has also come to light.
However, a source from the Nepal embassy said they had no official information about the agreement.
According to Companies Commission Malaysia (SSM) records, the company was incorporated in 2009.
It is involved in providing application, programming, information technology and development services, the development of foreign workers welfare management centres, as well as training and consultancy services.
Its financial records also showed the company was in the red for the financial year ending June 30, 2022.
The Star is withholding the company’s name for the time being.
The Star has also reached out to Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh for their comments.
