Irene Fernandez a true international champion of workers

Irene is the first human rights activist to voice the plight of foreign workers working in Malaysia

Her concern for exploited workers has prompted her to voice out, which no trade unionist has done has done

She might incur the wrath of local unionists, but her humanity and sense of justice has driven her to speak our for foreign workers.

Actually her attitude will win sympathy of countries which have workers here like Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam and Ceylon.

UN has formulated laws for countries which employ foreign workers prescribing rules for employers. Unfortunately, the government does not enforce the rules resulting in exploitation and maltreatment by employers and the whole chain of agents responsible in processing the foreign workers.

The concerns expressed by Irene Fernandez will hopefully result in better treatment of foreign workers, whose presence is vital for the construction, plantation and service industries.

Without foreign workers houses will not be built for our citizens. Without them, the oil palm plantations will stop producing palm oil which is a big money maker for our country, as 90 percent of workers come from Indonesia.

By speaking out for foreign workers Irene is now facing the wrath of MACC, die hard unionists and corrupt government officials.

Chen