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Kota Kinabalu: Eleven out of 15 people including three Chinese nationals, who had illegally entered Philippine waters on two speedboats, are scheduled to be deported today (Friday) via a flight from Manila, Philippines.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the Philippines Government is verifying the documents of those involved.

“I understand four more Malaysians who are the boat owners are still being detained.

“All the 15 individuals including eight Malaysians were detained together…their identities will be made public later,” he said after attending the Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labour Convention, here, Thursday.

Saifuddin

On Sunday, the group was reported to have unknowingly crossed into Sitangkai waters near Tawi-Tawi during an alleged unlicensed fishing expedition. 

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the Ministry’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Council (Mapo) targets to elevate Malaysia to tier one of the United States annual Trafficking in Persons report from its current tier two position by next year. 

“Mapo’s core business is to create awareness campaigns with stakeholders to ensure they comply with all indicators.

It is also an agency that regulates the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act.

“We are at tier 2 where in three categories, we are in compliance of eight policies which leaves us with seven more to go. The rates of forced labour cases opened, the charges and subsequent convictions have increased as with our multiagency outreach programmes, which gives us high weightage.

Grants are also given to NGOs, namely Tenaganita and Good Shepherd Services, for shelter homes and coaching.

“All this contributes to the country’s momentum on the correct path to zero problems in the international market regarding our plantation products,” he said.

Some 1,000 employers from the private sector who attended the convention signed a company pledge in dealing with the crime of human trafficking and forced labour. 

For Sabah, Saifuddin said the Master Committee on the Management of Foreigners in Sabah (JKPWAS-Induk) co-chaired by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor will continue to collect digital data of foreigners in the State for a more effective management.

Meanwhile, Human Resources (Kesuma) Minister Steven Sim is confident that the tabling of the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Amended) this October will receive Parliament approval with the support of Sabah leaders. 

“It’s an important component for Sabah’s worker rights to be uniform with their peninsula counterparts according to the Employment Act 1955.

“Amendments include the provision to Section 18(b) which is to eradicate forced labour with an RM100,000 fine and or two years’ imprisonment. Chapter 11 of the Ordinance also contains amendments to child labour laws,” he said. 

He said his Ministry, as well as the Sabah Labour Department, was working to enhance the process of receiving and managing complaints by developing specific procedures tailored for migrant workers.

Sim said migrant workers faced unique challenges compared with local employees.

“The situation for migrant workers is different from that of local workers.

“While local workers can return home after filing complaints, migrant workers residing in dormitories may face complications if their complaints are exposed,” he said.

Sim added that the department had established principles that aligned with the Employment Act and the Sabah Labour Ordinance, ensuring workers were entitled to their wages.

“The principle is clear. Once migrant workers enter Malaysia, they are entitled to their salaries and wages. There will be no more excuses for employers to withhold payment.

Sim also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, the State Government and partners from the Home Ministry for their efforts in organising a convention aimed at raising awareness and providing fundamental education on human trafficking and forced labour.

The convention showcased 11 indicators of forced labour and introduced a guidebook distributed to more than a thousand employers at the event.