Sivakumar said Malaysian companies looking to employ foreign workers must ensure that they provide safe and clean living conditions for the workers.

“This is a very important humanitarian issue. If we want to continue bringing in foreign workers, it is our responsibility to ensure we provide for their welfare,” he told reporters during a joint inspection with the labour department at two factories here today.

Sivakumar said the living conditions for foreign workers at both sites were poor.

He said the rooms were cramped and the cooking areas posed safety and fire hazards, adding that some workers complained of not even having mattresses to sleep on.

Sivakumar said firm action would be taken against both employers and that investigation papers had been opened.

He said although the government had started to ease the process of foreign labour intake to resolve the labour shortage in the country, there must not be a compromise on the treatment of the workers.

“Just because we loosened regulations doesn’t mean employers can bring foreign workers in and chuck them anywhere,” he said. “This is a global issue and people are watching us.”