Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia’s officials, led by Ms. Pattaporn Samantarat, Minister Counsellor (Labour Affairs) and Ms. Sopit Madpongtua, Counsellor (Labour Affairs), visited Thai workers at Afamosa Resort Hotel Sdn. Bhd. and My 32 Traditional Massage (M) Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia’s southern state of Malacca.
Afamosa Resort Hotel is located at Jalan Kemus, Simpang Empat 78000 Alor Gajah with a total area of 520 hectare. It was founded by a Chinese Malaysian Datuk Lau Chir Nguan. The hotel is named after Afamosa fortress built by protégées people when they occupied Malacca. The resort consists of an open zoo, a marine park, a cowboy village, a horse-riding field, a hotel, a condotel, and weekend houses with a private pool. All Thai workers work in the open zoo, and the cowboy village.
Currently, the company hires 30 Thai workers, who work as stuntman, elephant keeper, and multi-animal show supervisor. Most of them have worked with the company for 5-10 years. They normally work eight hours during the day and three hours at night at which they are paid at overtime pay rate, according to the laws.
The company provides its works accommodation, and 200 ringgit monthly for them to spend on food. In case its works need medical treatment, they can claim medical fee from the company. The workers are also entitled to have one day off work each week, and holidays according to Malaysian laws. However, Office of Labour Affairs was told that the company requests Thai workers to work on holidays because they have unique skills, unlike local workers or workers from other countries. The company says that it would hurt the company if some Thai workers take leave all together for several days.
According to Office of Labour Affairs, the company plans to open a Thai massage parlor. It has once opened a Thai massage parlor at the resort while Thai workers were hired to work there. However the massage parlor was forced to close down as it was difficult to hire massage therapists due to quota restrictions on foreign workers. If the plan is approved by the Home Ministry, the company will hire around 20 massage therapists from Thailand.
Office of Labour Affairs told the company about the process of hiring Thai workers through the Thai Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment.
Then, the Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia’s officials travelled from Alor Gajoh to Batu Berendam, at which they visited Thai workers at My 32 Tradisional Massage Sdn. Bhd., located at No. 28, Jalan PB 1, Taman Padang Balang 75350 Batu Berendam. The massage parlor opened its business on 2012 but was forced to temporarily close down due to license problem. Currently, it hires five Thai massage therapists, most of who are from Thailand’s northeastern region. All of them have a Thai massage 150 hours certificate.
The massage parlor provides workers free accommodation, cooking equipments, and rice. Workers, however, will be responsible for food expense, and water & electricity bills. It pays workers half of the massage fee it earns. On average, each worker receives some 3,000 ringgit per month. Workers have to pay 4,000 ringgit work permit fee.
During the trip, the minister councellor (Labour Affairs) also told workers about employment regulations for foreign workers and advised them to behave well in order to improve the image of Thai massage and make known the Thai indigenous skill.
