Witness accounts: Forced labour in Malaysian plantations Agriculture is perhaps one work sector that needs to be paid greater

attention with regards to forced labour. Although the number of refugees and asylum seekers working in this sector is not as high as those working in other sectors, Health Equity Initiatives research shows that those who have worked in plantations show more significant symptoms of anxiety compared to other sectors. The most worrying aspect about forced labour in the plantations is that it can often last for years, longer than in other sectors. Plantations are usually located in remote places, making it easier for employers to confine workers without being noticed. Forced labour with physical confinement is probably the worst it is it is very difficult for victims to look for help and employers can impose more penalties. Kyawt is a 24-year old ethnic Chin refugee from Burma and a mother of two who first came to Malaysia four years ago. Through friends, she found a job at a flower farm in Cameron Highlands, unaware that she would have to spend two years confined there. There were many workers of different nationalities at the farm, Bangladeshis, Nepalese and Indonesians they were allowed to go outside of the compound, because they had passports. The undocumented Burmese were specifically ordered never to go out. The boss locked the gate, hes not nice, Kyawt recalled. He wouldnt even allow family visits and deducted my salary when my brother came to the farm and tried to see me. Kyawt had long working days of up to twelve hours, seven days a week, with a wage of only RM14 per day. She was never given off-days even when she was sick. The boss and his children were bad people. They shouted at us and always threatened to cut our wages when we made mistakes. Kyawt said she felt very sad during the time she was in forced labour, but she felt like she had no choice, Sometimes I wanted to quit. But [] I asked myself, if theres no job, should I live unemployed? Like Kyawt, Min was also confined in the plantation where he worked. He previously worked at a restaurant, but his boss decided that he was not presentable to work there. He then sold Min to a plantation owner in Alor Setar for RM1,000. I was not aware that I had been sold [but] the boss always said, I have paid RM1,000 to your boss, so you must work for a year. Until then, you cannot quit. He never received any wage. While I was there, the compound was locked and [] surrounded by sharp metal wires. [It] was very remote and I couldnt even see any vehicles around. I couldnt go anywhere As in Kyawts case, other documented workers were able to move freely. The plantation owner threatened that if Min ever tried to run away, he would call the Immigration authorities to arrest him. Min worked 11 hours a day, even when it rained. He was given only two meals every day, usually only rice and leftover vegetables from the plantation. The boss gave me a container for me to collect rainwater for bath and other purposes. His main job was to spray insecticide, but he was not given a facemask. He even had to use clothes left by previous workers because the boss refused to spend more money on him. Min said that the experience was really hard for him. At that time, I couldnt even see myself as a human. The situation really drove me crazy and I felt like I wanted to die. It was also during this time that he heard about the deaths of his mother and younger sister. There was no one for me to speak to. The pain I felt was unspeakable. Although he eventually managed to escape from the plantation compound, Min said that he continues to feel gripped with fear. I dont feel safe. I always feel like the boss will come and do something to me. There is never a night when he can sleep well and he always wakes up startled. He has trouble distinguishing dreams from reality. When I sleep it doesnt feel like sleep, and everything I have experienced comes to my head. Mins testimony is sadly common, showing how hurtful effects on mental health last long after experiencing forced labour.
October 2011 Heath Equity Initiatives http://www.healthequityinitiatives.com/resources/public-awareness-campaign