SEPANG: For the past few weeks, 15 Bangladeshi labourers here have been in deplorable conditions, including being crammed into three rooms in an apartment in Cyberjaya.
The workers also claimed they were forced to work 16 hours a day for just RM60 a day.
Their plight came to light after a joint operation led by the Labour Department alongside the Sepang Municipal Council, the Immigration Department and the police.
During the operation, it was also observed that the house was filthy and the apartment's floor was oily.
It is understood that while the foreign workers had different employers they all worked at the same construction site and were moved to the apartment a few weeks ago.
"It's hard to work in other places, the work here is okay. Construction work begins at 8am and we come back after midnight.
"Our bosses pay us RM60 a day, we don't have to pay for housing but we cook our own meals," one of the workers told Harian Metro during the operation.
Labour Department director-general Kamal Pardi said the authorities checked three premises housing 30 Bangladeshi workers during the midnight operation.
He said the authorities received complaints from residents about the large number of foreigners staying at the unit.
Kamal said the workers' employers failed to ensure the workers had proper accommodation as required under the Employment Act, including providing mattresses and other basic amenities.
The workers had to sleep on mats or pieces of cloth, he said.
Kamal said the authorities would call in the premise owner to assist in investigations.