Malaysia to probe former employer of migrant worker in viral video being humiliated outside bank
The Malaysia labour department has launched an investigation into the former employer of migrant worker Safiudeen Pakkeer Mohamed, after a viral video showed him being hosed down and kicked outside a bank. The High Commission of India confirmed he was safely repatriated on 2 December.
- Malaysia’s labour department has launched an investigation into the former employer of Safiudeen Pakkeer Mohamed under the Employment Act 1955 and Act 446 after a viral video showed him being assaulted outside a bank.
- Safiudeen claimed his employer withheld his passport and wages, deducted up to RM1,800 for a work permit renewal, and left him without shelter after he stopped working.
- Authorities confirmed his owed wages were paid, and with assistance from the Indian High Commission, his passport was returned and he was repatriated to India on 2 December.
MALAYSIA: The Malaysian Labour Department has launched an investigation into the former employer of Safiudeen Pakkeer Mohamed, the migrant worker who drew attention after a video of him being humiliated outside a bank went viral.
In a statement reported by Free Malaysia Today, the department said it had opened an investigation paper under the Employment Act 1955 and the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation and Employee Facilities Act 1990 (Act 446).
The Employment Act outlines minimum standards for wages, working hours, leave and workplace safety, while Act 446 sets regulations for employers providing housing, accommodation and facilities for employees.
Public outrage erupted after a video circulated online showing Safiudeen being hosed down and kicked outside a bank.
The short clip shows a female security guard turning on a hose and spraying water on a man lying on the ground. Another man then appears, continuing to spray him and kicking him in an apparent attempt to drive him away.
The bank later apologised, stating that the guard was employed by an external service provider, and pledged full cooperation with the authorities.
Speaking to FMT, Safiudeen said that before the incident, he had been working as a cook at a restaurant in Sri Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, where he earned a modest wage.
However, he claimed that his employer withheld both his passport and his salary, sometimes for months.
He added that in March this year, his wages were further reduced when the employer deducted up to RM1,800 (S$566), allegedly for the renewal of his work permit.
After he stopped going to work, Safiudeen said he had nowhere to go and initially sought shelter with friends, who later could no longer house him. This forced him to sleep along the five-foot-way.
The Labour Department confirmed that his former employer has since paid the wages owed to him.
According to a Facebook post by the High Commission of India on 3 December, it had worked with the employer to ensure all dues were settled and Safiudeen’s passport was released.
The employer also reportedly bore the cost of his flight ticket back to his home state of Tamil Nadu in India.
According to the post, Safiudeen was safely repatriated to India on 2 December.
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