Khammat and a fellow worker cooking wild vegetables collected from a nearby forest for lunch. - JAMES KON

Bandar Seri Begawan - Twenty-eight foreign construction workers were allegedly abandoned by their employer without a cent in wages for four months and left to fend for themselves. The construction workers who are staying at a double-storey wooden building in the Kilanas industrial area approached the Borneo Bulletin to voice their plight.

The victims comprised 14 Thais, three Indonesians, nine Indians and two Filipinos. One of the construction workers from Thailand, Khammat, claimed that, "We haven't received any salary for four months from our employer. We have barely enough money to buy food everyday".

The construction worker who has been working in Brunei for around two years alleged that, "Some of the workers have to look for fish in a stream and wild vegetables to put food on the table. It's hard. We have nowhere to go and no money. If there is food, we always share, (but) there is barely enough for everyone.

"Recently I went to my employer's house to demand our salary but I was chased out of his house. "We lodged a complaint with the various embassies and the Labour Department around two months ago but we are still stuck here."

When asked where their passports are, he replied, "Our passports are still kept by our employer". However, he did produce a photocopy of his passport and work permit.

Another worker Soban Soprang who was among the few lucky ones who managed to obtain a stable job with another company claimed that, "The workers and I haven't seen a penny for four months from my former employer.

I was lucky enough to find another job as a mechanic, but the rest still don't know whom to turn to for assistance. "We did lodge complaints but nothing has been done to force the employer to-pay up our salary.

"The victims' families also suffer in their home countries as there is no income being sent back. "We would like to plead to the relevant authorities to help solve the issue as soon as possible," he said.

Mr Ana Juk, Minister Counsellor of Labour at the Royal Thai Embassy in Brunei when contacted said that the embassy had received a complaint from the construction workers and is trying to help by trying to transfer the workers to other potential companies. However, this is not easy, he said.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Comments (5)

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transparency advocate
written by BruneiHeartBruneiSoul , August 04, 2009

We should know who that irresponsible employer is. I for one would not want to have anything to do with that kind of person. Buat malu negara ku saja. Those poor workers should be given their rights.

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Unbelievable
written by Steven Goh , August 05, 2009

I do remember a past newspaper about penalties for errand employers. Old habits die hard. What are we trying to say? Out with the new, back with the old.

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Abandoned Workers
written by Reynaldo , August 05, 2009

Same story also i heard in seria, the workers for Brunei garrison buildings (Gurkha houses) recently have no salary for three months, even some workers finished their contract and have to go back to their country, have nothing.

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Why the inaction og the Labor department ?
written by Mr Wondering , August 05, 2009

These stories, are uncommon in Brunei. I kept wondering how the Labor department has allowed these heinous bullying on poor laborers, who borrowed money, sold their cows and come to Brunei to help to build Brunei. The Labor department seems to keep imposing new regulations but shameful events seems happening, we would like to see some justice brought to these employers !

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Abandoned Workers Survive on Fishing and Wild Vegetables
written by sano , August 05, 2009

This is a typical scenario in Brunei and it has been this way in Brunei even before any economic crisis happen. As far back as 20 years ago, I have been hearing about errant employers who do not pay their employees and leave them to fend for themselves. Although numerous complaints from workers to relevant authorities and departments were made, only a few employers for the past 20 years were slapped with a fine or conviction. In most cases, one has to see who the 'Directors' or 'Proprietors' were involved. If the name appears to be someone of some rank or related to someone important in society, in such cases, not even the Embassies can help their own people. The amount of red tape and corruption involved and the matter of 'this person is someone important or, related to someone who's important' prevails in this country. Until this attitude changes and people work towards a more professional, unbiased, uncorrupt with less red tape, this situation of abandoned workers will continue to taint our image. I also do know of a well known Hair salon in Gadong that has not paid their workers for the past 4 months and the poor workers still have to work because each time they protest, the proprietor (someone important in high society) will threaten them with deportation back to their respective countries.

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