Malaysia is a major destination country for migrant labor in Asia. The number of migrant workers in Malaysia with regular status is nearly 2 million, and there are a significant number of workers with irregular status. As with most destination countries in the region, labor migration in Malaysia is managed through temporary programs, and primarily for "low-skilled" work, sometimes characterized as ‘3D’ - dirty, dangerous and degrading. There have been many abuses faced by migrant workers in Malaysia, committed by recruitment agencies and employers, ranging from excessive recruitment fees, to serious violations of the terms and conditions of employment, among others. These highlight the gaps between existing labor laws and policies and their implementation, and, likewise, differential treatment of nationals and migrant workers.

The project’s goal is to build the capacity of workers’organizations or other civil society organizations to assist foreign migrant workers in Malaysia. The project will achieve its goal primarily by accomplishing the following objectives:

1. Improved education of foreign migrant workers regarding their individual and collective rights; and

2. Improved advocacy on behalf of foreign migrant workers.

Although the government has made efforts, and representations of additional steps in the future, to address the problems faced by foreign migrant workers, the gaps in the law and its application noted above continue to make it difficult for workers to claim their legal rights. Thus, it is critical for workers’ organizations and other civil society organizations to further build their capacity to educate foreign migrant workers about their individual and collective labor rights and to advocate on their behalf to help them secure those rights.

International Labor Organization (ILO)

(202) 693-4900 / Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA)