Foreign women trapped in human trafficking scheme after being lured by ‘job’ offers
KUALA LUMPUR: A promise of legitimate domestic work turned into a dark deception for a group of foreign women, who got ensnared by a cunning agent.
Lured by the allure of employment in Malaysia, the women instead found themselves trapped in a web of human trafficking and forced labour.
While the costs of their travel and permits were covered by the female unlicensed agent, the victims were left with scant earnings after hefty deductions from their salaries.
The illegal scheme unravelled when the Immigration Department raided a house in Klang on Tuesday, rescuing five foreign domestic workers – an Indonesian woman and four Indian nationals aged 32 to 47.
“The raid was conducted after the Immigration Department received information on foreigners being exploited by an unregistered maid agent.
“The agent promised the foreign women legitimate jobs as maids in Malaysia but that was not the case,” the department said.
Initial investigations revealed that the agent was the mastermind behind a human trafficking scheme, using the house as a transit point for the victims before sending them off to employers illegally.
“The agent would bring in foreigners from India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia and promise them work,” the department said.
“She would also cover all their travel, food and lodging expenses so that the victims were tied down and had to pay back all the costs and service charges through salary deductions.”
During the raid, the Indian women were discovered hidden in an attempt to evade the authorities.
“The victims were believed to have been staying at the transit home for about three weeks while waiting to be supplied to a new employer.
“The raiding team also discovered several passports belonging to other women,” the department said.
The women had been promised salaries between RM1,300 and RM1,500 a month, but these were also siphoned off to pay for their passes.
“Most of them have worked in Malaysia for the past two years and still have valid temporary work permits for foreign workers and work contracts,” it said.
A family member of the agent has been called in for questioning while the agent, a Malaysian woman, remains overseas.
“She will be detained once she returns to Malaysia,” it said.
The department advised employers to use the right channels when hiring domestic workers.
“Check the background of any maid agency before engaging their services. Only use the services of registered agencies,” it said.
Those with information on human trafficking offences are urged to contact the department at 03-8880 1471 or via email at urusetia_p@imi.gov.my.
