Janak Raj Sapkota: Outsourcing agency, agents exploit workers

Outsourcing agency, agents exploit workers

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Jank Raj Sapkota /kula Lumpur

September 17

Roshan Bhatta looked hopeless during an encounter at Nepal's embassy in Malaysia which is situated along Jalang Ampang road. Bhhata, an employee at a Rawang based company that produces paper bags, had turned illegal after he kept working in Malaysia without extending the visa which expired two years ago. Bhatta, a resident of Basundhara-Kathmandu, wanted to return home to meet his sick mother. But Bhhata's legal status was proving much costlier than he had thought. He had just handed 2600 ringgit to 'a middlemen' to process document to obtain travel permit. The money that Bhatta paid to acquire travel document is a third more than 'required' amount.

Like Bhatta, a total of 66, 83 Nepali national working without legal status in Malaysia have obtained travel document since Baishak, according to data compiled by Nepali embassy.

Undocumented workers are required to pay a minimum of 2300 ringgit to secure an exit visa. Besides including the air fare, the cost includes 160 ringgit for travel document, 20 ringgit for photos, a lump sum fine of 400 ringgit to Malaysian immigration and 550 ringgit in service charge that workers are required to pay to the outsourcing company hired by Malaysian government to process the documents.

The amount that the middlemen charge from undocumented workers now is at least 300 ringgits more than prescribed by the law. In other words, undocumented workers who applied for travel document in the last four months paid Rs 48 million more to the middlemen than what they required to pay as per the law.

Nepal's ambassador to Malaysia Niranjan Man Singh Basnyat says that exploitation of illegal workers was widespread.

"Agents are charging around 400 to 500 ringgit extra from each worker," said Basnyat, while accepting the failure of the mission to stop exploitation.

"The embassy itself has fallen into clutches of agents."

There has been significant rise in number of illegal migrants returning home in wake of a nationwide drive of Malaysian government to get rid of undocumented workers. The Nepali embassy in Malaysia issued travel permit to 1135 workers in Baishak (mid April to mid May). Similarly, the embassy issued travel document to 1121 undocumented workers in Jestha (Mid May to Mid June), 1701 workers in Ashad (Mid June to Mid July), 1608 workers in Shrawan (mid July to mid August) and 1118 workers until the last week of Ashad (mid August to mid September). The embassy issued a total of 143000 travel documents in last three years.

The exploitation of documented workers has become rampant since last year, particularly after Malaysian government starting taking application for travel document through a private company named Haarfase. The outsourcing company, which is based on the same building where the embassy is located, charges 550 ringgit to process the application for travel document. The unfair 'service charge' has added economic burden on illegal workers who are more prone to abuses and exploitation. In addition to service charge paid to Haarfase, workers are compelled to pay unjustified amount to layers of agents for range of services like photo shoot, accommodation and buying air ticket.

Interestingly, little is known about Haarfase or its agents. Officials at the Nepali embassy in Malaysia said they lack any information on the outsourcing company. With embassy turning blind eyes to the rampant exploitation, many workers like Bhatta have been forced to forfeit their hard earned money.

Before Haarfase, Malaysian government had entrusted a local NGO named Cooparasi Immigration to facilitate the process of returning the undocumented migrants. Cooperasi used to charge 1280 Malaysian ringgit from each migrant worker. The Cooperasi unilaterally increased the service charge to 1680 ringgit after a writ petition was filed at Nepal's Supreme Court demanding legality of the outsourcing service. Following legal issues, the embassy had terminated the agreement with the NGO. Few months later, the Malaysian Home ministry appointed Haarfaase to facilitate the home return of Nepali, Cambodian, Indonesian and Vietnamese workers. The Haarfase's appointment paved way for entry of many agents and added the economic burden of the workers.

It is not uncommon for undocumented workers like Bhatta to fall prey to agents due to host of factors including language barriers, mobility issues and lack of trust toward the embassy. The sluggish service and apathy of the embassy is another reason why workers like Bhatta are inclined to seek service of the agent.

In the embassy, around 50 undocumented Nepali workers were in process of returning home. Two of them were Bhatta's friends who were also taking help of an agent paying exorbitant fee. Most of the workers whom Kantiput talked to reported that they had paid between 2300 ringgit to 27, 00 ringgit.

"My mother wants me to return home anyhow. So money is the secondary priority right now," said Bhatta.

Purnahang Imbung of Naagi-1 Pachhthar, another Nepali worker standing in the same queue, had processed the document through a Nepali agent named Ashok. Imbung, who became illegal 14 months ago after running away from his original employer, said that he wanted to return home.

"I want to return home anyway," said Imbung while declining to comment on agents, fees he paid out of fear of the agent. The agents were making gestures to their clients, the undocumented workers standing in the queue, not to talk to new people and disclose the amount they paid.

With neither Malaysia nor Nepal showing enough sincerity to address the problems, it has been a compulsion for workers to find agent. Agent can be found in every nook and corner from Nepali restaurant to places where workers usually meet.

Netra KC, who runs a photocopy shop near Nepal embassy, is one such agent. KC, who was recently released from prison after serving terms for duping workers, told Kantipur that he charges 2260 to 2360 ringgit to send undocumented workers back home.

"Some are charging as high as 5000 ringgit, while many others even exploit workers physically and economically. I give receipt to each of my client to maintain transparency," said KC, who compares his work to social service.

Khagendra Neupane, chairman of NRN Malaysia, said that many workers are duped by fellow Nepali workers. He said that a majority of Nepali workers are Nepali workers themselves.

"It is hard to tell when a worker falls prey to an agent. Since your friend, relative or a co worker can be agent, you might be exploited at any point," said Neupane.

Note: This reporting is originally published in Nepali language in Kantipur daily in September 17,2017 (https://www.kantipurdaily.com/news/2017/09/17/20170916203959.html)

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Outsourcing agency, agents exploit workers

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