Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar says Malaysia has taken action against 400 companies so far this year for violating labour laws.
The ministry’s labour department issued fines totalling 2.17 million ringgit against 272 employers, while the courts fined 128 employers a combined 242,000 ringgit.
Sivakumar says the labour violations included illegal wage deductions.
The allegations of forced labour include debt bondage, excessive working hours, retention of passports and unhygienic dormitories.