Bangladeshi Workers Face Wage Theft and Legal Limbo at Malaysian Manufacturing Firm

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Bangladeshi migrant workers employed at a bedding manufacturing facility in Malaysia are facing a severe humanitarian crisis, marked by three months of unpaid wages, the withholding of personal passports, and the expiration of legal work permits. The affected employees, working for Aerofoam Manufacturing (1969) Sdn Bhd, have formally petitioned the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources’ labor department, known as Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK), to intervene in what they describe as a state of systemic exploitation.

Documentation provided by the Migrant Welfare Network (MWN), an organization dedicated to the protection of migrant rights, highlights the dire circumstances facing these workers. Deprived of income for the past quarter, many are unable to cover daily living expenses or send essential financial support to their families in Bangladesh. The financial strain is compounded by the heavy debt burdens many workers assumed to secure their employment, leading to mounting interest and extreme psychological distress.

The situation is further complicated by the company’s failure to renew work permits for approximately 35 employees. Despite entering the country legally, these workers now face the constant threat of arrest, detention, or heavy fines due to their current undocumented status. Compounding these legal risks is the company’s retention of workers’ passports, a practice that restricts freedom of movement and violates standard labor protocols.

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Beyond financial and legal insecurity, the workforce reports abusive working conditions. Allegations include being coerced into mandatory overtime without adequate rest, resulting in significant physical and mental exhaustion. Workers further cited a lack of transport facilities and the absence of any internal mechanism to address grievances, leaving them effectively silenced within the workplace.

The petition submitted to Malaysian authorities outlines a series of urgent demands, including the immediate disbursement of back wages, the regularization of visas and work permits, and the unconditional return of all seized passports. Additionally, the workers have requested an official investigation into the recruitment process, specifically regarding the high placement fees charged, and called for the cessation of compulsory overtime. The workers are now urging the Malaysian labor department to conduct a swift inquiry while ensuring they are protected from potential retaliatory actions by the employer.