Chin Refugees: Report on Abuse of Payment

Putrajaya (VOCR):  December 04, Siang Tin Sang, a recognised refugee from Falam together along with her colleague known as Tan Soe, a Burmese asylum seeker experienced an assault by their boss, reported as an Arabic man running Internet cafe' in Putrajaya.

On December 02, the victims reportedly called upon VOCR team for help that they were verbally attacked and told that they were never paid for what they've been working for nearly a month. According to what they spoke out during the phone interview session, they appeared that at the start they were told to be paid whenever they worked half month, guaranteeing to give day off per week. Nevertheless, there is no action done according to what he told us but to mock us and verbally abused us all the times, said Ms Siang Tin Sang. In addition to that, he threatened them not to report to Chin community office as well as UNHCR office on what he did to them. If so, they could be far abused worse.

Attempt to make intervening their problematic case with their Arabic boss on the phone by one of VOCR reporters has been made but apparently it failed to work it out because of his disability to speak English properly. However, the VOCR team helped them report to community office in the event of being necessary to refer to UNHCR-OPI team.

Similarly, LC Hram Uk, a recognised refugee from Hakha came to VOCR team and reportedly claiming that he was cheated for his pay by his Chinese boss, known as Aa Wei (Future Cabinetry Industries-001909114) for the whole month of his work. The total money of what he deserved to be paid is said Rm- 820 while one of his friends doubly cheated Rm- 2,000 and another was Rm- 1,300.  

The Chin refugees in Malaysia have been not only experiencing a wide array of daily arrest, stopping in public by police and CID personnel, detained in detention center, a variety of extortions but also on a daily basis which they incredibly paid the price for the sake of their family survival are even cheated and inhumanely abused. Options are very narrow as the original status has been simultaneously discriminated. 

Even so, according to reports observed from several employees met in person by VOCR team, Chin workers among other ethnicities from Myanmar are highly labeled as faithful and quick learners.

By Simon