PARIT BUNTAR: A 16-year-old male teenager from Myanmar, suspected of being exploited for forced labour for over a year, was rescued when the Labour Department, together with the police, raided a factory in Sungai Rawa, Simpang Lima, yesterday.
During the major operation, dubbed Op Pintas Mega, the authorities also detained 46 foreign workers, comprising 43 Myanmar nationals and four Chinese nationals, when they raided the factory at 3.15pm.
Perak Labour Department director Muhamad Fauzi Abd Ghani said checks showed that the foreign workers, aged between 20 and 40, were found to have overstayed or did not have valid documents to stay and work in the country.
He added that some foreign workers detained during the raid were found to have misused their social visit passes.
"Investigation also showed that the employer of the foreign workers failed to obtain a certificate of accommodation from the department and did not provide facilities such as cabinets and mattresses that meet the required standards for the workers.
"In addition, the employer is believed to have made illegal wage deductions, paid wages in cash, and had workers working more than 45 hours a week," he said.
Earlier in the raid, several individuals believed to be factory workers were seen jumping over the factory's zinc fence and attempting to flee upon the arrival of the raiding party.