Page 19 - BPAReport

5. The Independent Committee presented an Interim Report on its findings together with
discussions on its preliminary recommendations to the Minister of Human Resources on
December 18, 2018 and to the Minister of Home Affairs on January 14, 2019.

6. The Independent Committee held thirteen town hall sessions in Kuala Terengganu,
Kuantan, Melaka, Kuching, Miri, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Alor Setar, Ipoh, Kepala Batas,
Seremban, Putrajaya and Johor Bahru. A total of 6090 participants attended the Town Hall
sessions. During these sessions the Secretariat recorded 797 oral responses touching on
weaknesses in the foreign workers management system.

7. The Secretariat received 167 written memorandums from a variety of stakeholders
ranging from employers, to employee groups, to civil society organisations and individuals
with an interest in the welfare and social struggles of foreign workers. They contained
complaints about shortcomings in the system but there were also many suggestions proposed
for strengthening or revamping the system. Furthermore, stakeholders also sent to the
Secretariat a total of 110 suggestions and memorandums via email.

8. The Secretariat has collated and summarized all these very useful feedbacks which the
Independent Committee has had the opportunity to review and to take into consideration in its
deliberations and recommendations to revamp comprehensively the foreign workers
management system.

9. The feedbacks from the town hall sessions formed the basis for the subsequent focus
group discussions with selected stakeholders. The discussions mainly focused on policy
changes and adjustments that the stakeholders felt were essential for a more effective holistic
foreign workers management system. The discussions with in-house unions and national
unions of employee representatives saw the participation of 6 entities from the private and
public sectors and was attended by 7 persons. In the discussions with the group composed of
employers’ associations and unions some 18 entities covering a variety of economic sectors
attended with 57 representatives present.

10. There was also a group discussion with international organizations, the Bar Council
and Suhakam where 12 entities attended with 19 representatives. This was followed by
another group discussion involving 25 entities from the migrant and refugee communities
who sent 102 representatives to the focus group discussions. We purposely held it on a
Sunday morning to facilitate the attendance of foreign workers.

11. A separate group from 9 source country embassies were invited with twelve
representatives to gather their views. The invitation to NGOs saw the attendance of 20
entities who sent 28 representatives to convey their suggestions and concerns to the
Independent Committee.

12. There was also a group discussion held in Parliament attended by 19 members of
Parliament and 4 senators. The last focus group discussion was held for regulatory agencies
and 8 foreign worker service providers. There were 40 participants who attended.

13. Including the inaugural meeting, the Independent Committee met on 6 occasions to
discuss the feedbacks and inputs received from the town hall sessions and focus group
discussions. We have debated the significance and the pros and cons of the various policy

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