HUMAN traffickers may be forced to pay compensation to their victims under the proposed Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill 2015.

The compensation, however, would not prevent civil action to be taken against the perpetrator by the victim.

The proposed amendments was tabled for first reading by Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

In the case of no conviction of an offence, where payment of wages is in arrears to an alleged trafficked person, the court shall make an order for the payment of such wages of a sum fixed by the court to the alleged trafficked person, the Bill said.

The proposed amendment also seeks to introduce a new section to empower the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants to grant any trafficked person permission to move freely and to work during the period of the interim protection order.

If the Bill is passed, the duration for the protection order will be shortened from a maximum of two years to three months.

Human trafficking has been reported to be the second most lucrative criminal activity worldwide following illicit trafficking of drugs.

The second and third reading for the Bill will also be carried out during this meeting.

During a visit to Malaysia on March 1, United Nations human rights expert Maria Grazia Giammarinaro had urged Malaysia to adopt a new protection system which gives migrant workers assistance in claiming compensation, temporary residence status and a work permit.

Giammarinaro, who is the UN’s special rapporteur on trafficking in persons, said there are an estimated two million documented and two million or more undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia.

She claimed the trafficking of young women and children for the purpose of sex work was prevalent in Malaysia.

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