Migrant workers

SRI LANKA: The Government of Sri Lanka must take a more proactive stance to save the lives of three Sri Lankans on death row in Saudi Arabia

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) notes that the Government and of Sri Lanka and, more specifically, its foreign ministry is taking a very passive role in defending the rights and saving the lives of three Sri Lankans on . As public questioning increases within Sri Lanka about the role of the foreign ministry in […]

SRI LANKA: Death sentences passed against three Sri Lankans — Rights of the family and the public

Further to our statement issued on 22 March 2005, regarding the death sentence handed down to a Sri Lankan migrant worker sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) can now report that the matter has received considerable publicity and has been raised by an Honourable Member in parliament.  In a press statement […]

MALAYSIA: Rights of migrants in Malaysia gravely endangered; present crackdown must immediately stop

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) strongly condemns the crackdown on migrant workers begun on the dawn of 1 March 2005 by the Malaysian authorities.  AHRC in a statement issued on 1 February 2005 called on the Malaysian government to permanently halt this inhuman treatment of migrant workers.  There were similar calls from a large […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Updates on the tsunami-affected Burmese migrant workers

[RE: UA-10-2005: THAILAND: Discriminatory relief operations and forced deportation against Burmese migrant workers affected by tsunami on 19 January 2005] Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) sihes to share updated information with you regarding our earlier report on the discriminatory relief operations against Burmese migrant workers affected by the tsunami by the Thai […]

MALAYSIA: Malaysia should be more humane on migrants and the crackdown must be stopped

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2005 AS-08-2005 A statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission Malaysia should be more humane on migrants and the crackdown must stopped The Government of Malaysia has announced that it will crackdown on approximately 800,000 undocumented migrant workers and asylum seekers currently based in the country.  The crackdown was to […]

THAILAND: Discriminatory relief operations and forced deportation against Burmese migrant workers affected by the tsunami

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is extremely concerned about the discriminatory relief operations against Burmese migrant workers affected by the tsunami by the Thai authorities. According to the latest information, due to the tsunami, about 2,300 Burmese workers were killed, 4,000 went missing, and over 3,000 are taking shelter at an abandoned […]

THAILAND: Migrant workers’ rights activist facing legal prosecution and death threats

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a group of state officers including the Mae Sot police, immigration officers and officers Department of Labour illegally searched the community Burmese worker center in Mae Sot run by the Migrant Assistance Program (MAP Foundation) in corporate with Yang Chi Oo Worker Association […]

SRI LANKA: Sri Lankan woman brutally assaulted and treated inhumanely whilst a housemaid in Saudi Arabia

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about a Sri Lankan woman, Dodanwela Welikanda Keerthilatha, who was assaulted and inhumanely treated whilst she was a housemaid in Saudi Arabia for two years since September 2002.  While in Saudi Arabia, Keerthilatha was subjected to severe assault including having acid soaked cloth tied […]

THAILAND: Abuse of workers’ rights at two factories on Thai-Burma border

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from our partner, Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association and Map Foundation, regarding the denial of labour rights and inhumane working conditions for Burmese migrant workers at two separate factories in Mae Sot, Thailand.  At the Kong Lian Thai Knitting Co. Ltd. (1000 workers) and […]

SRI LANKA: A man tortured and prosecuted with false charges by the Samanalaweva Police Post

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a man named Heeralu Mohottalalage Punchi Banda (39) was illegally arrested and tortured by the Sub Inspector (S.I.) Dhammika Bandara of Samanalaweva Police Post in Balangoda on 26 August 2004. Due to brutal torture, the victim still suffers from severe pain on his […]

UPDATE (South Korea): The Korean Government must immediately stop the massive arrest and deportation of undocumented migrant workers

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) calls for your urgent support for these undocumented workers in South Korea.  Since the South Korean Government began cracking down on undocumented workers in November 2003, many cases of harassment and arbitrary arrest of migrants have been reported. It is also reported that the detention center authorities […]

PAKISTAN: A young woman killed by her husband on the pretext of honour killing

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 30-year-old woman named Ms. Hidayat was allegedly killed by her husband, Mr. Momin Ali Mahar in Dal village, Lakhi Ghulam Shah Town, Shikarpur District, Sindh Province, Pakistan on 29 February 2004. The case was registered at the Chak Police Station. However, a human […]

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Two migrant workers facing upcoming deportation committed suicide

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that two migrant workers who were facing forced deportation by the Korean government have committed suicide. It is estimated that 120,000 illegal migrant workers who have been in Korea for more than four years are facing forced deportation by the South Korean government beginning […]

UPDATE (THAILAND): Update on Dr Cynthia’s clinic targeted by Thai Government’s crackdown on migrant workers

Dear friends The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Dr Cynthia Maung and her clinic staff will not be deported to Burma. Forum-Asia, said in its statement last week that there was a risk that Dr Cynthia’s clinic would be shut down and its staff would be deported to Burma by the […]

THAILAND: Dr Cynthia’s clinic targeted by Thai Government’s crackdown on migrant workers

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from FORUM-ASIA that Dr. Cynthia Maung’s Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot District of Tak Province, which provides healthcare service to asylum seekers and migrants on the Thai-Burmese border, may have to close down as a result of the Thai Government’s crackdown on migrant […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (South Korea): Migrant activist arrested

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to support an appeal from the Migrants’ Trade Union in Seoul, about the arbitrary arrest of a migrant worker. The man has been raising awareness through activism and through his singing about issues facing migrant workers in South Korea. Workers who belong to the union are […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (Thailand): Comment in Accordance with Article 23 of the ILO Constitution on the Royal Thai Government’s Failure to Observe the Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention 1925 (C-19)

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following urgent appeal from The State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation (SERC) to urge ILO International Labour Standards Department to consider on the Royal Thai Government’s failure to observe the Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention 1925 (C-19). For more information, please […]

SOUTH KOREA: Immigration service ordered union leader to leave for his activity

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from Migrants Trade Union (MTU) regarding the visa cancellation and deportation order by March 7, 2011 of the president of the MTU Mr. Michel Catuira, allegedly based on his activities for the union. The migrant workers working at the MTU have continued […]