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In Malaysia, many male Burmese refugees and asylum seekers do construction work. One reason for this is because it is easier to find jobs there with fake documents. Noah, a 41-year old ethnic Chin refugee from Burma has been working construction jobs for almost two years using a photocopy of someone elses documents. Every time my friends and I heard theres a new documented worker who arrived, we would tell our agent to make photocopies of that persons work permit, he said. Up to fifteen people can be using copies of the same permit. HEI research revealed that work in the construction is highly stressful. Refugees and asylum seekers working in this sector show higher levels of stress compared to others in different sectors. Construction jobs are demanding: workers typically have to work long hours and do extensive, manual labour. According to David (47), also an ethnic Chin, on average they have to work for 10 hours every day, without being paid for overtime. Thomas (23), another Chin refugee, said that he would sometimes be forced to work until 2:00 am. In addition, easier tasks are often given to locals, or documented migrant workers. Noah said that at his workplace, the most taxing jobdigging the groundis never assigned to the documented workers. There were 4 or 5 Indonesians, but when we asked them to help digging, they said it is not their job. From Noahs account, we can observe how documentation status provides a context to forced labour, as those who are with proper documents are less exposed to difficult situations. Physical violence at construction sites is notoriously prevalent. David recalled that he was beaten once because he was considered slow at work. David explained that he was feeling weak because the boss did not let him stop for a meal or a drink. He also threw stones at me, pushed me and shouted at me. Thomas, meanwhile, is deeply traumatised by the humiliating treatment he received at work. He remarked that the boss would pull him by the hair in front of all the other workers whenever he made a mistake. One element of forced labour which is very clearly marked in the construction sector is the withholding of wages. The nature of this sector helps to explain why this withholding of wage is very common. The main difference with other sectors is how construction jobs are temporary projects, conducted in relatively open spaces, which makes it easier for the worker to escape. Thus withholding wages becomes the only effective means to prevent workers from leaving. Refugees and asylum seekers from Burma are usually promised a daily wage of RM30, but in reality they typically receive far less. Samuel (39), also from Chin state, astutely commented, I think my boss controlled me by not giving full wages. When he handed me my wages, he kept some amount, thats how he controlled me and kept me working for him. He didnt want to give me my entire wage when I asked. Refugees and asylum seekers usually endure the forced labour because they fear they will lose their wages if they run away. As Noah said, The boss didnt want to give us the wage and kept it from us, so we had to work until he agreed to pay our wages although we were not willing to keep working. David added quite simply, I would lose the remainder of my wage if I ran away. Living through the cruel circumstances of forced labour in the construction sector has deeply affected many refugees and asylum seekers. Thomas is a tense and nervous figure - when we talked to him he tended to avoid eye contact and often responded to questions only with a bitter smile. Samuel, on the other hand, said his forced labour experience fuelled him with a lot of anger and resentment. Refugees and asylum seekers from Burma commonly report that the difficulties of living in Malaysia, - with little or no protection from exploitation and violence- generate a sense of loneliness and heartbreak in them.
Witness accounts: Forced labour in the Malaysian service industry Refugees and asylum seekers from Burma are most likely to work in the service industrybased on the HEI survey, 35% work in this sector. Restaurant work is the most widely reported, although there are also some who have worked in hotels, usually in housekeeping. John is a 23-year old ethnic Karen from Burma. He came to Malaysia about two years ago, and has since been working in restaurants around Klang Valley. John took up his first restaurant job about three months after his arrival. His main job was to wash the dishes, but he also had to do other cleaning chores at the restaurant, including cleaning the toilets. I washed and cleaned everything they ordered me to. He kept the job for about 8 months until he went to try to register for a UNHCR refugee card. I was scolded afterwards. The boss didnt want me to register with the UNhe just wouldnt allow it. Some employers are afraid of the UN card. They dont like it if we are registered with the UN refugee agency and have refugee cards. At present, John works in a food court in Sunway. On average, he works about 12 to 13 hours every day. The employers do provide him with three meals daily, but they take fresh ingredients from the fridge and cook for themselveswe are given stale food. John mentioned that he does get one day off each week, but to his dismay it is not on Sunday so he is not able to not attend church. John remarked that there are also documented workers from Vietnam where he works. John mentioned that these workers do not get scolded as much as the workers from Burma. John said it is the verbal abuse that hurts him most. The employers often pick on us, saying bad things about us, saying that we are lazy people, things like that. John said his working experience thus far has made him feel downhearted. I feel ashamed for being here, I feel like my presence in Malaysia is a bother, its like we have interrupted the lives of people here. Its not that I want to disturb the Malaysians. If I could, of course I would choose to work in my own country. Confinement is also found in the service sector, and can be done by agents. San (32), an ethnic Burmese asylum seeker, recalled how he was once confined by agents who promised him a job at the hotel. He kept me at a house with other people from Burma and Indonesia, including 3 women. We were locked in when they went out. The agent said he would give me a job if available. There were three guards in the agents house. Workers are usually shuttled back and forth from the restaurant to their living quarters. John is housed in a place he refers to as a hostel, where he is not allowed visitors. He has to share a small room with five other people. Similarly, Mei (22)an ethnic Shanwas also confined at the agents place. Every day, she would be brought by the agent to a restaurant where she was put to work as a dishwasher. She was never allowed to go out, and only knew the restaurant and the agents place. I only knew work, and off-work. Work, and off-work. I just followed the agents, wherever they took me to, I followed. I didnt think of disobeying. If I didnt follow I dont know what would happen. John recounted that his prayers were important in helping him to cope, but says, I am usually in tears after I say my prayers. He also gets by with support from some friends - fellow Karen refugees in Malaysia. Mei relies mostly upon herself, but feels alone and without anyone to turn to. Trying to avoid feeling upset or distressed, she says that she tries to suppress her heart, because crying only makes her feel worse. She also reminds herself that it could be worse, because I still have my legs and my hands. [] There are people who are richer, they face more challenges. And then there are also people who are worse off, those who have it worse than me. I tell myself dont think of bad things think of happy things. Experiencing forced labour is a traumatic and stressful experience. Those who have to work in these conditions are able to cope, and keep their humanity, but the toll on their mental health is evident.
October 2011 Heath Equity Initiatives http://www.healthequityinitiatives.com/resources/public-awareness-campaign