A clothing factory in Bulebel has been raided by the Police following reports that Asian workers were being exploited.

One of the company's directors Bin Han is being questioned by the Police.

The Chinese-owned factory, Leisure Clothing, has been operating in Malta for 27 years. According to various reports in PN-run In-Nazzjon and Il-Mument, the factory has been exploiting Asian workers for years on end.

Both the previous PN administration and the Labour government have turned a blind eye at the exploitation of Chinese workers at a textile factory in Bulebel.

Leisure Clothing was originally a joint-venture between the Maltese and Chinese government in the 1980s, but the Maltese government sold its share in the 1990s.

The reports say that a foreign agency offers the hope of a better life for young Asian people, at a salary of €600 per month.

A number of the workers who spoke to In-Nazzjon said Asian youngsters see the opportunity to work abroad as a welcome adventure. They said the promised €600 salary is attractive when compared to the pay in their native countries.

On signing the contract with the agency, the workers are made to pay €6,000 in order to secure the job and ensure passage to their country of choice.

The €6,000 fee is out of reach for most of the workers, therefore the agency helpfully offers to loan the workers the fee.

On their arrival in Malta, the workers are housed in dilapidated accommodation in Hal Far, just metres away from the ETC, the Employment and Training Corporation.

The paper revealed that the workers are paid mere "tens of euro" per month. Their Chinese employer  justifies this by saying that the rest of their promised €600 pay goes towards paying the €6,000 loan, as well as accommodation and food.

The Asian workers reportedly have their passports and other identity documents taken away from them by Leisure Clothing for "security reasons".

In a report yesterday, In-Nazzjon said that a number of authorities and high-ranking officials, including the Chinese ambassador, members of the police corps and unionists have been aware of these abuses for years.

Their silence has reportedly been bought in exchange for high-end clothing manufactured by the company.

Maltese workers are also employed at the factory, but are said to be treated far better than their Asian colleagues.

In-Nazzjon says that the Asian workers are hustled out of the factory's back door whenever the police or members of the Labour office visit the factory.