Unbroken Spirit: A migrant worker’s fight for justice and dignity
A fight for rights during the pandemic
Sabri’s story began when he left his home as a teenager to join his parents in Malaysia, seeking opportunities in a wood company owned by a Taiwanese businessman in Tawau, Sabah. The working and living conditions for Sabri and his fellow workers were dire—cramped quarters, little regard for occupational safety, and constant job insecurity.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, things went from bad to worse. The company halted production, refused to pay workers, and ignored government mandates ensuring the payment of wages during the lockdowns. As a member of the Sabah Timber Industry Workers Union (STIEU), Sabri actively campaigned for fair treatment. He filed a petition demanding wages for the migrant workers, bravely reporting the company to the Tawau Manpower Office. The union’s efforts were successful; the authorities ruled in their favor, affirming that the workers were entitled to their pay.
But victory came at a cost. The company, angered by the workers’ successful demands, began investigating the individuals who supported the petition. Sabri was among 36 workers targeted. In April 2022, the company fired him. Soon after, Sabri faced false accusations of sexually assaulting a colleague’s underage daughter. He was arrested, humiliated, and detained in front of his wife and infant child.
Although the police could not prove the sexual assault charges, they shifted their approach. Sabri was coerced into admitting he was an undocumented migrant worker, with threats of a 20-year prison sentence if he refused. Lacking legal representation, Sabri felt he had no choice. He was imprisoned for two months, during which he faced brutal conditions—darkness, overcrowding, and the constant fear of what would happen next.
The punishment did not stop there. Sabri was sentenced to caning. He faced the executioner, who whipped him five times with a large rattan cane. Sabri described how the pain became unbearable, causing him to faint during the punishment. The traumatic experience left lasting scars, both physical and emotional, but it did not break his spirit.
Despite his suffering, Sabri was not alone. The STIEU, along with the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), stood by him. They provided a lawyer, launched solidarity campaigns, and wrote protest letters to the Malaysian authorities and the Indonesian Embassy. They also offered crucial support to Sabri’s wife during his imprisonment, ensuring she was not left to bear the burden alone.
Upon his release, Sabri, his wife, and their child were deported to Indonesia. Even in his home village, the trauma lingered, making it difficult for him to face the outside world. Yet BWI and STIEU continued to support him, encouraging him not to give up.
The fight continues
With renewed courage, Sabri bin Umar has filed two lawsuits—one against the Malaysian Government for wrongful arrest and police mistreatment, seeking RM10 million in compensation, and another against his former employer in the Industrial Court for reinstatement. The final hearings for both cases were held in July and September 2024, marking crucial steps in his battle for justice.
Sabri’s resolute declaration at the conference, “I will never stop fighting for migrant workers and human rights!” underscores the ongoing struggle faced by countless migrant workers worldwide in their quest for dignity and fair treatment.
Sabri's story is a profound testament to how being part of a union can transform fear into hope. In the face of intimidation, wrongful imprisonment, and extreme punishment. His journey underscores the power of collective action in empowering workers, proving that with a union, no worker has to face exploitation alone.
Read Sabri’s full testimony.