Around 190 Bangladeshi Migrant Workers at Mediceram Dismissed for Demanding Fair and Dignified Working Conditions

Mediceram Sdn. Bhd., a company producing ceramic moulds for the glove industry and a supplier to multinational brands such as Ansell, YTY, and Top Glove, has been accused of exploiting migrant workers since 2017. These workers were recruited through human trafficking syndicates, as confirmed by multiple media investigations and international bodies, including the United Nations.

At the time we issued our earlier solidarity statement, the workers had already gone on strike for the third time, demanding full repayment of the exorbitant recruitment fees that had been unjustly imposed upon them.

The migrant workers at Mediceram have been forced to live under conditions akin to modern-day slavery — their passports confiscated, wages withheld or inconsistently paid, work visas left unprocessed, and threats of arrest used to intimidate them. They endure deplorable living conditions and constant insecurity.

Over the years, the workers have organised nearly eight or nine protests. Each time they acted collectively, the employer made promises to settle outstanding debts and meet the workers’ demands — promises that were repeatedly broken. Even the involvement of government agencies such as the Department of Labour has failed to bring meaningful pressure or decisive action to resolve the workers’ claims.

The situation deteriorated further on 30 September, when Immigration Department officers raided the factory and handcuffed around 90 workers who were allegedly without valid visas. In reality, all of them had initially been legal employees, but the company had failed to renew their visas. We have also received prior reports of Mediceram workers being deported simply for taking part in collective action to demand their rights.

Although the recruitment fees were eventually reimbursed on 27 October, the company has still not returned the workers’ passports or renewed their visas. Even worse, on 31 October 2025, all workers received termination letters and were forced to prepare for deportation to Bangladesh. The company claimed the workers had been absent without valid reason — a blatant distortion of the truth, as the workers’ collective actions were legitimate responses to exploitation and deceit by the employer.

The strike remains the most powerful weapon of the working class — proof that the true source of profit and economic power lies in the hands of workers themselves. Yet every act of defiance is met with harsh retaliation from employers and the capitalist class. For this reason, solidarity from other labour organisations — especially youth movements and local worker groups — is crucial to ensure that this struggle continues until the workers’ fundamental demands are fully met and the employer held accountable.

We express our full solidarity with the workers currently on strike in defense of their rights. The struggle of migrant workers in Malaysia must be supported and strengthened by local workers’ organisations—particularly by strong and principled trade unions. Through this statement of solidarity, we call on trade unions and young people alike to help spread awareness of this injustice and to pressure the relevant authorities, such as the Department of Labour and the Department of Industrial Relations.

On the morning of 3 November 2025, we were informed that the dismissed workers had attempted to file a case with the Department of Labour and the Department of Industrial Relations, but encountered several difficulties and were unable to do so. We were also told that the officers displayed an indifferent attitude in assisting them.

We, the Workers’ Solidarity Network, Sosialis Alternatif, and AKSI (Socialist Student Alliance), believe that the employer’s continued betrayal of existing agreements reflects the management’s utter disregard for the workers’ basic demands. The company is driven purely by profit, willing to act arbitrarily and exploit workers who are fighting for their rights. Likewise, the government must take firmer and more transparent action in fulfilling its responsibility — especially in defending the dignity of the working class struggling for justice.

We see the struggle of the Mediceram workers as part of the broader class struggle — a fight against the greed and inhumanity inherent in capitalism itself. Only by building a united workers’ movement that transcends national, ethnic, linguistic, and religious boundaries can we forge a truly transformative struggle — to replace capitalism with a socialist system based on equality and workers’ power.

We demand that:

1. No to unlawful forced repatriation — the dismissed workers wish to continue working honestly in Malaysia, in accordance with existing laws, and are only demanding their rightful dues from employers who have clearly exploited them.
2. Immediate job placement for all workers who were unfairly dismissed, ensuring their transfer to companies that can provide legal and secure employment so they can continue their lives with dignity.
3. The immediate return of all passports and the renewal of work visas for every affected worker — Mediceram must take full legal responsibility for these obligations.
4. Government intervention is urgently needed — particularly from the Department of Labour, the Industrial Relations Department, and the Ministry of Human Resources — to resolve the issues faced by migrant workers who have long contributed to the profits of the local capitalist class.
5. An immediate end to all forms of threats and intimidation by the employer — so that all Mediceram workers can live and work with dignity, free from fear of dismissal, harassment, or retaliation.