The government of India’s Ministry of External Affairs has announced guideline and advised Caution to workers Seeking jobs in Malaysia. Following is the statement of the ministry:

It has come to the notice of the government that a large number of workers misguided by some unscrupulous Indian as well as Malaysian Recruiting Agents (RAs) are emigrating to Malaysia without proper documentation about their employment, foreign employer and employment contract etc. As a result such Indian workers become vulnerable to exploitation by their employers in Malaysia and often get stranded in Malaysia without work and then lodge complaints in the Indian High Commission at Kuala Lumpur.

Indian High Commission at Kuala Lumpur has formulated guidelines for Indian workers who want to take up legal employment in Malaysia. The Indian workers intending to seek legal employment in Malaysia should get themselves familiarized with the laws and working conditions in Malaysia. These guidelines are available on the website www.mohr.gov.my. The Indian workers planning to take up legal employment in Malaysia, should take the following steps, on arrival in Malaysia:

(i) Obtain a resident permit or identity card and a labour card immediately,

(ii) Keep their passports in safe custody and not part with their travel document, (i.e., passport) and employment contract signed by them in India,

(iii) At least, a copy of the passport should always be carried by them at all times,

(iv) They should not sign another employment contract or any blank paper during his/her stay in Malaysia,

(v) In case of loss of passport or copy of the employment contract, a report may be lodged with the Indian High Commission immediately,

(vi) They should get themselves apprised about the working conditions in Malaysia,

(vii) They should note that strike by workers in Malaysia is an illegal act under Malaysian Law.