Department of labour Peninsular Malaysia director-general Kamal Pardi told Bernama the operations were conducted to care for the well-being of foreign workers in the country.

These were also undertaken to refute international allegations that Malaysia practises forced labour.

In the first operation, 52 workers from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Indonesia were checked in Ipoh.

Only seven had refugee cards from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and 14 others had no valid travel or work documents.

In the second and third operations in Manjung and Tapah, 17 foreign workers were rescued.

“They were employed for construction work in Meru Raya over the past two weeks.

“However, the employer did not provide jobs and left them without any source of income,” Kamal said after the operations.

He said their inspections showed employers had violated the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 446).

They were accommodated in cramped spaces and forced to sleep on rubber mats as no beds or mattresses were made available.

Kamal said the department would not compromise with employers treating employees this way as this could lead to allegations of forced labour and tarnish the country’s image.

“We want employers in all sectors to fulfil their responsibilities. They must ensure proper job placement and provide decent accommodation for foreign workers,” he said.