Couple escape from
electricity. Six or seven families
‘bonded labour’ in
rubber estate
By Devid Rajah
MALACCA: Police are investigating
the case of a rubber tapper and his
wife who escaped from a “bonded
labour” master in Rembia, about
20km from here, last week.
K. Vaddigounder, 28 and K.
Mageswari, 33, who claimed they
were abused physically and
mentally for seven-and-a-half
months, fled on Aug 22.
Ironically, an epileptic attack that
Mageswari suffered made their
escape possible. The boss allowed
her husband to take her to the Alor
Gajah Hospital, after holding their
three sons, aged seven, four and
two, as “insurance”.
They returned four days later
with some friends to rescue their
sons.
The couple said they were forced
to live in a wooden house with
leaking roof near Taman Rembia,
along with 10 other workers, after
being lured there with the promise
of better working condition and
wages.
Vaddigounder, who claimed he
was slapped, punched and kicked
on several occasions by his boss,
said the workers had to use
rainwater and water from a nearby
river for cooking and drinking.
“The house had no rooms and no
were forced to stay in it,” said
Vaddigounder.
He said the workers were paid
between RM110 and RM130,
adding his boss supplied the
workers with cheap liquor each
night, the money for which was
deducted from their salaries.
“We were forced to work from
7am to 5pm in the estate. We were
never made to sign anything when
the boss paid our wages and there
were no mention about EPF or
Socso contributions.
Vaddigounder said that his boss
claimed that he was bonded with
RM400 debt.
Batu Berendam MIC division
chief S. Mahadevan said he had
received several complaints about
the bonded labour problem in
Rembia.
“But we could not get any
evidence in the past as none of the
people who worked in the rubber
estate there came forward to lodge
official complaints.
State deputy police chief Senior
Assist Comm (II) Samsuddin
Sulaiman said he had ordered his
men to record statements from the
victims.
 Sources told The Star that there
were at least three “bonded labour
contractors” in Malacca, two
operating in Rembia and one in
Lendu.
A source who had been dealing
with estate workers claimed that
some of the contractors had even
forced labourers to sell their
newborn babies to repay their
debts.
SAMPLE REPORT (ARTICLE REVIEW REPORT)

TOPIC: Social Ills

TITLE: Couple escape from ‘bonded labour’ in rubber estate

AUTHOR: Devid Rajah (The Star)

1.0 SUMMARY

At least seven families were saved from a ‘bonded labour’ master in Rembia,
Melaka and authorities believe that there is still at least three more such ‘slave
masters’ still operating nearby. It came to light when a couple managed to
escape due to an epileptic illness suffered by the wife that required urgent
medical attention. They came back together with friends and the police despite
their three children being held captive as ‘insurance’ by the unscrupulous
master. Authorities were appalled by the sight of their living condition with no
basic amenities for the unfortunate seven families and later learned about the
various mistreatments received. These include physical and verbal abuse, total
disregard of labour and human rights and distortions. They were lured there
with the promise of better working and living conditions with good wages.
Most of them ended up owing more than they could keep to the contractor
that it was claimed they were forced to sell their newborn babies to repay their
debts.

2.0 DISCUSSION

Bonded labour, according to Anti-Slavery International (2008), is a form of

modern slavery. It is when a person is forced to work for many hours but given
little or no pay at all. This is actually happening all around the world (Anti-
Slavery International, 2008). Other than the case in Rembia, Melaka, bonded
labour is also happening in Sabah, where hundred thousands of Indonesian
migrants working in various sectors do not get any payment for their work
because they are said to be in debt with their recruitment agents (The Star,
2010, p.13).
(This part is a further elaboration of the topic chosen using other reading
materials related to the topic. You have to cite & write the reference of the
information that you have borrowed from other writers.)

3.0 PERSONAL OPINION

In the case of Rembia’s bonded labour, obviously this particular contractor or

‘slave master’ really ‘own’ these poor people and work them to his economic
and social advantages. It is unheard of these days especially in our country
where workers have their own legal rights within the stipulated guidelines and
laws. It is believed they have a syndicate running such an operation with
linkage to gangsters, as those who live in the same estate dare not make an
official report to the authorities concerned.

It is quite shocking to learn that this crime against humanity is happening

rampantly all around the world, and that the victims are needy people who
have to support the financial needs of their families. Another such incident was
reported by New York Daily (2013) whereby a family who migrated to USA was
forced to do hard labour. After working so hard, the victims were not paid a
cent; on top of that, they were treated very badly.

4.0 RECOMMENDATION

It is really astonishing to have learnt that there are still ‘bonded labours’ and
slave masters’ exist in modern day Malaysia. Poor, unsuspecting and mostly
uneducated people are being lured with promises to a greener pasture only to
learn a bit too late on the stark reality awaiting them. Constant efforts and
proper action by the relevant authorities like the Labour Department from the
Ministry of Human Resource is crucial. It includes educating the labour force of
their legal rights, monitoring the employers and look after their plights and
welfare in return of their contribution to the country.
As bonded labour is happening in the whole wide world, various parties should
make strong and concerted efforts to eradicate the world of this crime. I
believe that ‘Anti-Slavery International’, with the support from United Nations,
should head a commission to draft a plan and take action to stop this form of
slavery from taking advantage of people who are in dire need of jobs.

Reference

Anti-Slavery International. (2008). Bonded Labour. [Online]. Available from

http://www.antislavery.org/includes/documents/cm_docs/2009/1_bonded_la
bour.pdf. [Accessed: 13 March 2010]

The Star. (2010). Victims of Bonded Labour in Sabah. 25 th June. Available from:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?
sec=nation&file=/2010/6/25/nation/6541580. [Accessed: 12 December 2010]