Malaysia has taken action against 400 companies so far this year for violating labour laws, Business Today Malaysia reported citing state news agency Bernama and Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar. The labour violations included illegal wage deductions, Sivakumar said. The minister did not name the companies, nor did he give details of the labour offences. The ministry’s labour department issued fines totalling MYR 2.17 million (USD 463,279) against 272 employers, while the courts fined 128 employers a combined MYR 242,000 (USD 51,665), Bernama cited Sivakumar as saying on Thursday. Malaysian companies have faced US bans in recent years over allegations of abuses against migrant workers, who are employed widely in the country’s manufacturing and plantation industries. The allegations of forced labour include debt bondage, excessive working hours, retention of passports and unhygienic dormitories. Malaysia has set a target to eliminate forced labour practices by 2030.