Procure IT Fair has launched the new documentary: Blue Elephants - migrant workers in the Malaysian electronics industry. "Blue Elephants" documents the dire labour conditions ofof an Indonesian and an Nepali migrant worker who are working for Malaysian contract manufacturers that supply big IT brand companies.
Migrant workers pay several thousands of dollars in commission to labour agents to get work permits. Workers often engage in heavy debts to obtain such permits which may grant them a stay in Malaysia for five year maximum. Time to pay off these debts is limited, while pay is low. Migrant workers face discrimination in Malaysian society as well as on the work floor, and have to accept bad housing conditions. The work load is heavy, and when worker fail to meet set targets, they risk immediate dismissal. When workers get pregnant or fall ill, they are sent back home at their own expenses.
The documentary has been produced by Moritz Siebert in cooperation with World Economy, Ecology, development (WEED), for the European Procure IT Fair campaign.
