Tag: Migrants

[South East Asia] Malaysia to deport undocumented migrants from next week
17Jun By Our NewsroomNo Comments
Asia, World

[South East Asia] Malaysia to deport undocumented migrants from next week

As Coronavirus continues to spread unabated, the Malaysian government has decided to deport undocumented immigrants in the country to their respective countries starting next week.Senior Minister (Security) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the sending back process will start with Indonesian citizens on June 6.“All Indonesian illegal immigrants will undergo Covid-19 testing via the Rapid Test Kit Antigen (RTK Antigen) method first in the presence of officials from the Indonesian embassy before being sent back.“The first phase, which starts on June 6, will involve 2,189 Indonesians, who are currently being detained at immigration depots in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, as well as 672 at depots in Sabah,” Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said on Saturday.“From the total number of Indonesians involved, the
Read More
[South East Asia] COVID-19 outbreak: Malaysia tightens border control to guard against import of cases
17Jun By Our NewsroomNo Comments
World

[South East Asia] COVID-19 outbreak: Malaysia tightens border control to guard against import of cases

After nabbing 300 migrants in this month alone, Malaysia is now beefing up its border monitoring to prevent foreigners from entering via illegal routes and potentially importing COVID-19 infections, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Thursday.“The government takes seriously the entrance of illegal immigrants into the country and we feel the fear, especially at this time (of the COVID-19 pandemic).“So we have started 'Ops Benteng' where the maritime agency, the military as well as the police are working together in monitoring the borders, especially illegal routes that can be used by immigrants to enter illegally,” he said.Ismail Sabri, who is also defence minister, also raised his concern over possible re-entry of foreign workers who have earlier left Malaysia for Hari Raya Aidilf
Read More
[South East Asia] Migrant workers should not be discriminated in terms of healthcare, says Malaysia’s health chief
17Jun By Our NewsroomNo Comments
World

[South East Asia] Migrant workers should not be discriminated in terms of healthcare, says Malaysia’s health chief

As the country battles to contain coronavirus outbreak, new clusters of infections came to light at three detention centres for undocumented migrants in Malaysia.This comes as Malaysia this month arrested more than 2,000 foreigners for not having permits that allow them to be in the country following raids in areas under lockdown. The centres they are detained in are often crowded, with dozens of migrants packed in a single cell, which makes social distancing impossible.“Migrant workers should not be discriminated in terms of healthcare,” Health ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said, adding that immediate medical attention and decontamination procedures at the centres, which hold thousands of detainees, is imperative."Negative sentiments against detainees must not be amplifie
Read More
Number of Coronavirus patients increases in Singapore
15May By Our NewsroomNo Comments
Singapore

Number of Coronavirus patients increases in Singapore

Singapore has seen the number of cases of the novel coronavirus increasing substantially --  about in April to 26,098 now-- and the vast majority are migrant workers, many from South and Southeast Asian countries like Bangladesh and India, who were infected in crowded dormitories.Significant workforce of the Singapore-- 1.4 million migrant workers-- live in the city state, mostly employed in construction, manual labor and housekeeping. Of these, about 200,000 live in 43 dormitories, according to Minister of Manpower Josephine Teo.Every dorm room houses about 10 to 20 residents. They share toilet and shower facilities, eat in common areas, and sleep just feet away from each other. It's nearly impossible to conduct social distancing -- the consequences of which became clear in April when Sin
Read More