It caters to the needs of Migrant and Refugees in the Northern Region through its volunteers and various Parish Migrant Ministry (PMM). a) PARA-LEGAL SERVICES
Para-legal assistance on labour issues such as:
* non-payment of wages by employers or agents
* unlawful deductions by employers or agents
* denied off-days by employers or agents
* unsatisfactory living/work conditions
* long working ho
urs that violate the Employment Act 1952
* breach of employment contract by employers
* illegal termination of contract of employment
* insufficient days of work
Para-legal assistance on immigration issues:
* Special Pass applications for workers who have a legal right to stay in the country but are unjustly prevented from doing so.
* Check-out memo applications for workers who want to leave the country but are unjustly prevented from doing so.
* Passport-related issues including preventing the illegal withholding of passport by any party and assistance in application for replacement of lost passport
Para-legal assistance on other issues:
* Physical abuse – beatings, r**e, threats, etc.
* Harassment by employers, agents, authorities, etc
b) WELFARE SERVICES
Medical assistance
* Free Clinics – migrant workers who are in need of medical assistance and cannot afford it may avail of this service. Workers are required to get a referral letter from our office before visiting on the panel clinics. Supply of basic necessities for migrant workers who are in need of food, clothes & provisions. c) COUNSELING SERVICES
Counselling is available to migrant workers who are facing difficulties coping with their jobs or living in a foreign land. Professional psychiatric counselling is also available (by appointment). d) CATHOLIC PASTORAL SERVICES
POHD, being a Catholic organization organizes events that benefit them (Catholic foreign workers) spiritually as well. These events would include:
* Foreign Language Masses & Services for Christmas Masses, Easter Services, Penitential Services, Lent Services, Migrant Sunday
* Formation Sessions such as retreats, camps, talks, seminars, faith awareness programmes
These events are organized with the help of both local and overseas resource persons. Visiting priest from Vietnam, Myanmar and other countries in the region are regularly requested to do these services for migrant workers from their country. Religious congregations have also contributed to the spiritual well-beings of the migrant workers. Foreign priest who are interested to minister to their nationals in the Diocese of Penang may contact us to inform us of the intended visit. POHD would be more than happy to help make the arrangements so that migrant workers from the country are available to meet the visiting priest. However, this requires the approval of the Archbishop of Peninsular Malaysia. e) TRAINING AND AWARNESS PROGRAMMES
Training Programmes are regularly conducted on the following topics:
* Your Rights as a Migrant Worker in Malaysia
* The Malaysian Law – How to stay out of trouble
* The Employment Act 1952 & The Immigration Act 1963
* HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme
* Human Rights Education
Training can be organised by POHD or in partnership with other NGOs. Request to conduct training for migrant worker communities or other groups that are assisting migrant workers are welcomed. Training programmes can be tailored to suite the needs of the particular community i.e. f) ORGANISING MIGRANT WORKERS COMMUNITIES
Migrant workers are better able to cope with the stresses of living in foreign land when they live in a community that supports and strengthens its members. The Ministry for Migrant Workers identifies these communities and provides the opportunity for them to organise themselves especially through participation in events that are organised by migrant workers i.e. national day and cultural celebrations unique to their country of origin. This would include providing assistance in organising these activities e.g. financial assistance, venue arrangements and volunteer support. g) ADVOCACY
Injustices faced by migrant workers often have their roots in systems and mechanisms that govern and run the foreign labour recruitment industry. It also has roots in the laws of the country. POHD strives to ensure that these systems, mechanisms and laws are just and equitable to the migrant worker. This is done by networking with similarly oriented NGOs and participating in campaigns that are geared to create change.
