ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government has kicked off efforts to address the overcrowding and mismanagement of foreign workers in Pengerang, Kota Tinggi.
In December last year, some 750 Bangladeshi workers were duped into coming to Pengerang for non-existent jobs.
Pengerang locals have expressed concern about the foreign workers' unregulated and unsafe housing conditions.
State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han said 461 of the duped foreign workers remain in three worker dormitories in Pengerang.
He said they were now legally employed in the district, with some relocated to other districts.
He said an action committee had been set up to address the issue.
At the committee's inaugural meeting today, it was decided that seven worker dormitories that previously received temporary building permits and met the conditions under the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation and Employee Facilities Act 1990 (Act 446) would be considered for regularisation.
This would ensure the facilities were well-managed and regulated.
Government agencies would continue to monitor the sites to prevent the overcrowding of foreign workers in Pengerang.
Lee said the measures would ensure that foreign worker accommodations were safe, complied with regulations and would not negatively impact locals.
The action committee included representatives from the National Security Council, police, Immigration Department, state Labour Department, Johor Petroleum Development Corporation, Johor Economic Planning Division and Pengerang Municipal Council.
Lee said agencies would conduct frequent joint operations and visits to the dormitories.
"We don't want issues to crop up due to the chaotic management of workers' quarters, unsuitable housing locations or lack of security measures."
He said there was a need for structured and long-term solutions.
He said the committee's main focus was to resolve issues related to the foreign workers in Pengerang.
"We need to plan and implement measures to tackle the foreign workers' quarters, develop both short-term and long-term solutions to prevent overcrowding and ensure proper living conditions."
The committee would also take action against employers for non-compliance with worker management regulations, he said.