“What power do I have? This is not my country,” Karim (not his real name) said as he reflected on the years he has been working for a construction company in Malaysia.

The Bangladeshi, who arrived legally in Malaysia in 2008, said his working hours and days were never fixed.

For some months, he would work for 25 days and in other months, he would work for 30 days, without off days or leave. His days off were entirely at the company’s discretion.

Employment contracts were written in English - and so he never understood the whole content. Yet, he signed the document because of his need to work, he told Malaysiakini...