Commenting on reports that 70% of Nepali worker deaths were caused by cardiac arrest, possibly due to long working hours, Suaram Executive Director Sevan Doraisamy said there was a need to change the approach to migrant worker welfare in Malaysia.

“We are appalled to hear that such things are allowed to continue with such consistency without any formal inquiries.”

He explained that if inquiries were held and employers were found liable for directly or indirectly causing a migrant worker’s death, then criminal sanctions should be brought against the employer.

If such inquiries were held, Sevan said the first thing the authorities should determine was whether the workers agreed to the long hours on their own volition.

“If an agreement was struck without coercion, the underlying reasons for agreeing to such a deal needs to be also explored.”
He said in such agreements, reasonable conditions needed to be established in the interests of the workers’ health.

Sevan also said there was a real need for the authorities to establish regulations on fair working hours and that these must be enforced.
“The general working conditions clearly also need to be reviewed, especially if workers are being subjected to conditions that bring about a tendency to commit suicide.”

Sean also said the authorities should further examine the issue of alcohol consumption leading to the deaths of foreign workers.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Nepal embassy had said 70% of the 461 Nepalese workers who died in Malaysia suffered cardiac arrests in their sleep.

Nepal Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Niranjan Man Singh Basnyat said the cause may be due to working long hours, especially under the hot sun.

The other 30% was due to fatal accidents at the workplace, consuming too much alcoholic drinks and committing suicide (a few cases) due to monetary reasons.