Without proper controls in place, employers are taking advantage of mass
repatriation programs to terminate and return workers who have not been paid their
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due compensation,
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and bene
ts.
Many migrant workers like Shameer had reconciled to the situation of wage theft in
the form of unfair or unpaid wages for months and years before the COVID-19
pandemic.
They accepted it as their fate and refrained from complaining lest they lose their
jobs, or worse still, live under the fear of being made undocumented.
According to Migrant Forum in Asia, a regional network that stands up for the rights
and welfare of migrants said in a statement that “wage theft” is happening and a
transitional justice mechanism should be set up immediately to address the
repatriated workers’ grievances.
“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,” said William Gois, Regional
Coordinator of Migrant Forum in Asia. “Millions will suffer if this crime goes
unnoticed. We cannot see this as collateral damage brought by the pandemic,” he
added.
According to Gois, it should be a priority to guarantee that all repatriated workers
with legitimate claims can access justice and some kind of compensation.
The appeal which, civil organisations and trade unions have launched together, calls
on governments to urgently establish a transitional justice mechanism to address
grievances, claims and labour disputes of repatriated workers who have lost their
jobs as a result of the pandemic.
“The pandemic must not sti e our will, our spirit, and commitment for justice,” Gois
said.
“If we are to ‘Build Back Better’, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the issue
of wage theft that has been persistent across migration corridors for years, and will
be unprecedented in the case of repatriated migrant workers in the COVID-19
pandemic,” Gois added.
According to the statement issued by the organisations, access to legal advice and
support, facilitating power of attorney procedures, and easing requirements for in-