The group, Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation, said the trafficking victims should be allowed to earn an income and thus recover the money they lost to unscrupulous agents, employers or syndicates.

The group’s secretary-general, Hishamuddin Hashim, said trafficking victims would have lost the equivalent of RM5,000 to RM20,000, depending on their nationality. Some would have also incurred debts in their country of origin.

“Who will compensate them? Some are afraid to return home unless they settle their debts,” Hishamuddin told FMT. “And as a country, it costs us nothing to give them a little leeway.”

He said a special pass, valid for two or three years, would act as an incentive for victims to come forward and report the unscrupulous agents, employers or syndicates who had preyed on them.

Many victims were afraid to lodge reports, fearing arrest because they did not have their travel and identity documents, which were being held by the employer or agent.

“If we want to tackle human trafficking, we need the necessary information. But the problem is, informants do not feel safe.”

He added that syndicates had become rampant because they knew the victims would not complain about them.