According to the introduction of 6P Amnesty program for illegal migrant workers, it opens the opportunity for workers to register for the amnesty in order to return their home countries or to work legally. In this regard, Malaysia has provided 5 jobs offering in these sectors; agriculture, cultivation, Industrial factory, construction, and manufacture (merely cooking operators, and staffs in resorts) and excluding Thai Massage. Therefore, under-standard business or unrated-Thai massage business have to seek for the channel to sustain their businesses, as a result, deceptive tricks are employed to lure the victims such as luring Thai female therapists to commit fake marriage registration with Malaysian guys in order to acquire the work permit as Malaysian’s spouse.
Minister Counsellor (Consul), the Royal Thai Embassy at Kuala Lumpur informed according to the interview with female victims that she was persuaded to work by Thai woman who had Malaysian husband and opened traditional Thai massage business in the areas of Selayang and Kepong, Selangor. In addition, she was lured that the salary was 20,000 Baht up and she entered into Malaysia with those woman by car through the border of Sadao district without any operation charge, however, if she could earn the incomes, it will be deducted to return employer as operational fee.
Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia would like to publicize that the deceptive job offering by luring Thai female therapists to commit fake marriage registration with Malaysian guys in order to acquire work permit was seriously dangerous to Thai female workers. Since after marriage, the victims will face numerous problems, namely, the salaries will be monthly deducted to pay Malaysian guys and it is difficult to terminate the marriage since it is related to the law and these husbands may not admit to terminate the marriage or may request additional amount of money in exchange for certificate for divorce and freedom. Moreover, they may have to hire the lawyer to file a petition for divorce which will cost a lot of expenses. Therefore, the Office would like to underline that Malaysian government does not consider traditional Thai massage therapist as a permitted job. Illegal migrant workers will be arrested and fined up to 10,000 Malaysian Ringgit or imprisoned up to 5 years and the employers will be punished pursuant to Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 which the illegal migrant workers will be confined in shelter as witnesses for long period of months.
For more information, please contact Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia
Tel No. 03-21455868/21456004
