Sim brushed off such concerns as the foreigners had not been trafficked.

“It is an abuse of the quota by employers,” he told reporters, referring to quota applications to hire migrant workers.

“We have taken action, along with the home minister, since December, including against the employers.”

Sim was speaking to reporters after attending a joint committee meeting between the home ministry and his ministry on the management of foreign workers. Also present was home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He was asked to comment on activists’ fears that Malaysia was at risk of being downgraded to Tier 3 in the TIP Report, expected to be published next month, in view of criticisms by UN experts and major international agencies, alongside concerns of recruitment quota fraud.

The TIP Report, published by the US Department of State, is an annual assessment that evaluates global trafficking trends, focusing on government efforts in prosecution, protection and prevention.

Malaysia is on Tier 2 (watch list) of the ranking, placing it among countries that do not fully comply with US minimum standards but are making significant efforts to do so.

The plight of Bangladeshi workers, who now account for the lion’s share of migrant labour in Malaysia, has taken centre stage recently.

Early this month, three international organisations expressed concern over allegations that some of these workers were duped into coming to Malaysia on promises of non-existent jobs.

Sim said his ministry has been working “very hard” to ensure there is no abuse of policies related to hiring migrant workers.