KUALA LUMPUR – Under fire for worker treatment, V.S. Industry managing director Datuk SY Gan told a migrant worker rights specialist the EMS company places a high priority on environmental, social and governance matters and is committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance.

The company complies with all government regulations concerning migrant workers, Gan told Andy Hall, the worker advocate.

"On the subject of migrant workers, we are serious in our efforts to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all employees, including migrant workers,” Gan said. “Managing a large pool of migrant workers indeed comes with challenges. As such, we have experienced and trained personnel in charge of the management of migrant workers.”

"There is a need to conduct further due diligence with regard to the situation of migrant workers at suppliers of many multinational company brands in Malaysia,” Hall said. "My areas of concern include the legality of the use of outsourced migrant workers through third-party agents, the risks inherent in the government's recalibration scheme, as well as working hours, living wage and social dialogue issues, amongst others. However, my recent comments were not meant as a direct reference to indicate irremediable migrant worker issues at VSI. In this regard, I am happy the management of VSI shares my concern, and we are already in discussion on migrant workers' welfare following the company's effort to proactively reach out to me so I could share my concerns with them.

"I have offered my immediate suggestions for VSI's management to consider. I look forward to furthering the exchange of communication with VSI leadership that can surely bring win-win outcomes to both migrant workers and VSI.”

"We have also passed the latest audit checks by the responsible business alliance, as well as by our key customers with no material issues highlighted,” Gan said. “With an operating history of over 40 years, VSI has established a strong reputation with MNC clients. As such, it is certainly in our best interest to ensure all our practices are above board to uphold our reputation with our clients and build long-term relationships with them."