KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Around 200 Bangladeshi workers cheated by their agents had been forced to live in deplorable conditions near the Bangladesh High Commission in Jalan Ampang here. Many were in such dire straits that they lived under a nearby flyover for months.

But their situation changed for the better on Tuesday when they were moved to a shelter in Semenyih.

Managed by the high commission, the shelter, which began operating in February, can house up to 800 people.

"We have 350 workers staying there while waiting to be re-employed. Most have been cheated or have not been paid wages owing to them," said high commission representative Waisuzzaman.

He added that the high commission has compiled a list of 28 errant local companies.

Commenting on the matter, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Senator T. Murugiah, who also heads the Public Complaints Bureau, said the system to hire foreign workers must be overhauled to stem abuses by agents.

Foreign workers who were cheated were simply dumped.

"We will be conducting a discussion with representatives from the Human Resources Ministry and employers to work out ways to protect Bangladeshis from being exploited," he said after conducting checks at the flyover yesterday. --NST