2008 Malaysia Trip Report

2008 Malaysia Trip Report
Rev. Linh Nguyen

This report is a reflection of many accounts told and given by the Vietnamese workers in Malaysia. The stories told just reflected a little bit of how they have experienced life there. This report is an education tool used to raise the awareness in the mind of many people who are not aware that human trafficking or such suffering is even existed in the 21st century.

What does one do about this human problem in order to bring fair and just treatments to the foreign workers, safe and sound working environment and love and acceptance and understanding to the displaced workers is up to each individual who hears and responds to God’s call in his or her life.

Who are these workers?
They are Vietnamese labor workers coming to Malaysia a few years ago on a three-year contract to work for a factory or company in Malaysia all across the country. They are mostly young people ranging from 18-39 years of age. A few are older. Most come from a poor family background; many are illiterate, did not finish high school. They want to have a better chance to make it in life, to send a few extra dollars home to help support the family in Vietnam.

How did they know about the labor workers program?
The middleman companies spread the news. Flyers were sent out or given to them, recruiting them to go to work. Other times, local officers came to their houses to suggest that they go to work. Many come from the same town telling their friends about the work program.

Who are the middleman companies?
These are companies supported by the government with their own agreement of paying the government a certain amount of money to have these workers going oversea to work for foreign companies. The people know nothing much about these companies except what they have told them.

These middleman people appear to be very loving, sweet and gentle that their talks are smooth even the little tiny ants will crawl out of their holes to listen to them painting the beautiful heaven in Malaysia when they sign the paperwork to go their working.
They are promised so many things that the world is waiting for them to come. In reality, it is not as promised and their hearts are broken.

Who are the workers and where do they come from?
They are the Tay people; Nung, Thai, Hmong, La Chi, Man, Meo, Muong in the North Vietnam. There are the Kinh people coming from Nghe An and other places as well; some come from the South as far as Dong Thap Muoi province.

What contracts do they have to sign to get to work in Malaysia?
They have to sign a three-year contract in Vietnam with the middleman companies. Then they have to sign a one year contract to have their visa and work permit with the companies they have signed to work.
Many said sometimes it is so close to leaving the country getting on the airplane that they were given contract to sign “here” without having enough time to read what they signed for.

What happened when they first landed in Malaysia?
Their passport or visa was seized or kept by the companies with the intention to keep them stay put. Without any proper paperwork or contract they cannot leave the factory which they have signed the contract with. They cannot leave the country without proper approval from the company and the middleman companies as well. They are stuck there. Some escaped or left the companies and went out searching for other work on their own. Illegally wandering the street they are subject to being caught and put in jail. They have to stay in jail until they pay the fine or penalty.

How do they go to work?
Some live within the factory boundary. The owner set aside a corner of the factory and built some temporary, mostly unbearable living quarter like “boxes” for the labor workers to live, eat and sleep.

Some go to work by bicycles. Some walk a mile to go to work. And walk the same distance to go home after very dark. It is dangerous after dark to walk home by oneself; especially on payday. Even a group of men can still be a target of robbery and attack. The word “Tran Lot” is used a lot in some crime infested towns.

How many days and hours do they have to work?
Most of them have to work seven days a week. Most of them work from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. shift; 12 hours average a day. Some work longer hours like 14-15 hours, and many have claimed to have no breaks in between. One and a half hour to an hour of lunch is the most they can have. Some have to wake up as early as five a.m. to cook for a group of 40-50 people in one company; one has to cook for more than 100 people.

How is their working environment?
There was a company where the supervisor has been warned many times about his anger. He took it out on the Vietnamese workers and often beat them for no reason at all. They don’t fight back but try to brace and protect themselves from further harm. The owner promised one of our workers there that he would fire this unkind supervisor. A social worker has been contacted; the owner promised the social worker to make improvement that no more hitting or beating of workers.

At one factory one person recalled saying he has worked with hot aluminum, and when the hot aluminum splashed or exploded it burned their back; other got burned in the stomach. The heat and fire burned through their gloves. No safety goggles given to the workers. No protective clothes given, just their regular garments wearing to work.

One guy said in the wood factory that he has been working; it is very dusty that he could not even see clearly the guy standing next to him.

Even when they are sick, they are forced not to take a day off. No sick day.

One worker said at one time, there was a period of four months he received no pay at all.
They have been asked to pick up cigarette butts. They have been searched through their bodies in and out of the factory.

No worker compensation! Some workers got job related injuries and were taken to the hospital for a quick fix, but no further follow-up, and they have to be back to work or else they would have to face the consequences of skipping work. One guy is with his wound on his left hand still very fresh for us to see.

How are the living conditions?
Harsh living conditions are visibly seen. Some reported having no water for two days and nights. Wet and damp condition and the humidity really affected them.

In one town, we met a group of about 38 people; we found out that small place of six rooms hold about 75 Vietnamese workers there. Just imagine having 14-15 people in a room, filled with heat, humidity and lots of cigarette smoke filled the room as well.

All of these rooms do not have air conditioning; they have to buy electric fans to cool themselves. Most wear just a short. All stay bare back to cool their body temperature.
After coming home from a long day at work, they have to cook the meal for themselves; some hurry to take a bath to cool themselves; other hang around smoking a cigarette to try to forget whatever happens during the day.

How much are they making a day or a month?
They are making an average of 18 RM a day. It is less than $6.00 US Dollars a day. it is about 600 RM a month. Out of the 600 RM a month, they have to pay for rent; an average of 45RM for rent; 200 RM for food;

Some workers the owners force them to pay 65 RM for the company “wear and tear” on tools and machine they used to produce products for these owners’ companies.

This subtraction for the “wear and tear of machinery” is an outrageous charge against their labor. They are being squeezed of every ounce of energy and taken advantage of.

In some companies, the workers have to work even when they are sick; or else they can be beaten with sticks.

Are they able to contact their families at home in Vietnam?
Yes. They are able to contact their families in Vietnam through cell phones. Most of them spend lots of money on cell phones. It is about 30-40 RM a month on cell phone expense. Some have to pay for airfares to go back to Vietnam to visit and to come back to work again within the contracted time.

What are their social, emotional and spiritual needs?
They learn to live in a new community of guys or girls. Many of them through their ordeal and suffering due to unjust treatment and the working environment have developed a strong need to have their spiritual needs met by God. Many found the love of God and the salvation through Jesus Christ and the love and community of the local churches in the areas.

Many workers wish to go home NOW if they can. They have to finish their contract or else whatever they sign in the contract will come back to haunt them. They will lose a lot more if they don't fulfill their contracts. We have to remember they have already borrowed lots of money from the bank in their town to complete the paperwork to go oversea to work. They have to borrow an average of 15-20 millions VN Dong. Some have to pay more to the middleman; all depending on the special circumstances so that they can come to work.

In a few instances, when the machine broke down, they could not work; even so they were beaten by the foreman or supervisors. Six of them reported that they were beaten when they stopped working due to broken machinery.

What do the churches there do for them?
The Christian workers at local churches play a role of a mother/father to them. They cook for them many meals a week when they come to the church services. The soft drinks, juices and water are provided as well. The church volunteers served them with the humility and love of Christ. They invested money in renting buses to bus them in on Sundays. They have volunteers who drive the vans to pick them up and to return them after church services. They have prayed and witnessed to them the love of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They have worked with abroad church workers to help speak and care for these workers in Vietnamese. Quite a few Christian workers have responded to God’s call to come and minister God’s love to these workers.

The churches in Malaysia have exemplified the love of Jesus Christ toward these workers and in return they have seen many responded to God’s love and accepted His salvation offered freely to them. Only God knows how many will be won over into the Kingdom of God and eternity is spent with God or without God is up to them to choose.

Many workers have found out that the time that the church buses, vans or cars which come to pick them up are the very special time; a time where they feel free to leave their workplace to find solace and comfort and love and fellowship from other fellow human beings. In their search for a little love here and there, they have found God’s love.

A question often asked is: If they don’t pay me, should I strike and stay home not going to work? Yes. One still has to go to work. Many feel that they have been cheated out of their labor all the way from the middleman in their country to the very owners and people at work. What can they do? The strategy offered to them is to do well, learn as much as they can about doing the best job, pray for the owners and supervisors and ask God to bless them; God will bless you in return. They have learned the secret of prayer. God answers prayers.

How do they handle with the stress of life and work there?
Many found some temporary relief through smoking, drinking beer or alcohol; others got involved with sex. Many have found love in all the wrong places. The ladies dated men from other countries. Homosexuality is becoming a big problem. A lot of broken trust existed. Pregnancy, forced abortion or run-away pregnant mothers who have become illegal. They are not allowed to marry or to have kids there. Kids born there have to be given to adoption.

Others who have responded to the invitation and outreach of the local churches have come by van or bus transportation to local churches and there they have found love, God’s love and genuine love of people who care about them. They have found salvation in Jesus, forgiveness from sins by God and the love of the brothers and sisters.

What did the middleman do for them in K.L?
Nothing much at all is done for them. Many said that the middleman have offices in K.L. did not really care about them. The workers said they have tried to call them many times to intervene or help them but they ignore their calls and said “we never receive any call from anyone for help.”

What happened to those who have no paperwork to work in other places?
They cannot work legally. If found out, they may be arrested and put in jail. Until they pay the fine or penalty and taxes, they could not leave the jail or Malaysia. There are about 10,000-11,000 Vietnamese labor workers in Malaysia prisons or jails. What can be done about this? Is there anyone representing them? What are their crimes? What do you do about it?

What do I do about all that I have heard or seen?
You could have chosen to do nothing. Absolutely nothing about it.
You could have chosen to do something about it. Pray for them is something you can do. Invest your time or money to come there on one trip to see first hand for yourself how they have lived and worked each day. Maybe you will be touched by what you see there. You may choose to give money to a church organization which is providing assistance or service to these labor workers.

You may have decided to set aside a certain amount of time or money to go there and work alongside with an organization to help serve the needs of these workers. Time may be running out soon. They may be returning to Vietnam pretty soon and the opportunity for you to serve will be less. Who knows what impact you will have in the life of these workers?

Maybe through your love and service and testimony you may see them give their hearts to God and see you in Heaven someday. See you on the mission field.