Bangladeshi Workers Protest Unpaid Wages, Abuse by Malaysian Employers

On November 10, 2025, around 100 Bangladeshi workers employed by Malaysian companies rallied in Dhaka, Bangladesh to demand unpaid wages, fair compensation, and an end to alleged abuse by their Malaysian employers. The protest was organized by the Migrant Welfare Network, a Bangladeshi migrant group based in Malaysia and Bangladesh.

The demonstrators claimed that 431 Bangladeshi workers were exploited by two Malaysian companies, Mediceram and Kawaguchi Manufacturing. They filed complaints against these companies, alleging forced labor and neglect. The workers said Mediceram failed to pay them despite a Malaysian labor court order, while Kawaguchi closed its factory after major customers like Sony and Panasonic halted orders in response to worker mistreatment allegations.

The protest highlights the widespread mistreatment of migrant workers in Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia's wealthiest nations. Many factories in Malaysia and the region rely on migrant laborers from Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal to fill labor-intensive jobs that local workers often avoid due to poor conditions and low wages. The Migrant Welfare Network has urged authorities and international buyers to take immediate action to ensure these workers receive their owed wages and fair compensation.