Bleak Hari Raya for 80 migrant workers in Johor

2026-03-15 - 08:54

A spokesman for the group of workers said they face a severe shortage of food supplies and are depending on well-wishers for their needs. JOHOR BAHRU: It will be a bleak Hari Raya for about 80 construction company workers in Pasir Gudang as their employer has not paid their wages and overtime claims for the past six months. A group of workers from Esstar Vision Sdn Bhd (EVSB), who spoke to FMT on condition of anonymity, said they are struggling daily to make ends meet, with the employer not doing enough to ensure their survival. “We are facing a serious labour and humanitarian crisis which needs government intervention to resolve. Our employer has failed to pay our salaries and overtime for six consecutive months. “After waiting for four months, we reported the matter to the labour department in January, but the matter has not been resolved yet. They are only meeting the employer on April 17,” a spokesman told FMT. He said they are facing a severe shortage of food supplies. They are pooling their resources and getting help from some well-wishers to survive. He alleged that the management threatened them after they lodged the report, adding that eight of them were told their contracts would not be renewed. “Because of the employer’s negligence, six of them failed to get their work permits renewed. Another has been working for eight months without a work visa. “We are constantly living in fear that they will all be considered undocumented workers if this goes on.” He urged the authorities to step in to resolve their problems, including settling all outstanding dues and providing them release letters so that they can find employment elsewhere. “We not only have families to feed back home but also need to settle the loans we took to come to Malaysia,” he said. When contacted, EVSB spokesman Law Yik Hui said the company is aware of the concerns raised by its foreign workers and is currently addressing the matter through the labour department. “The company is cooperating fully with the authorities.” He said the company has not refused to pay the wages and is working to resolve the matter in accordance with the law. “During this period, EVSB has arranged food supplies and provided financial assistance to the workers to enable them to purchase their own meals,” Law told FMT. He said the company was also in contact with the Bangladesh High Commission and had proposed a settlement framework, under which some workers have already reached amicable settlements and withdrawn their complaints. “EVSB remains committed to resolving this matter responsibly while ensuring the welfare of its employees,” he said. FMT has reached out to the labour department for comment.