Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Migrant Resource Center (MRC) in collaboration with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) has successfully conducted training workshops for migrant workers from Indonesia working in the electronics sector.
Speakers from MTUC MRC who worked on this workshop were Bro Zul Thye, MTUC MRC Coordinator, Bro Rudy, MTUC MRC SEL / KL Officer and Bro Salleh, MTUC MRC Johor Officer.
Among the objectives of this workshop were to meet migrant workers and to provide information and training on workers’ rights as well as to eradicate pockets of forced labor in Malaysia.
A total of 17 participants attended the workshop from 4 different electronic organizations from Melaka and Johor. The MTUC MRC has presented MRC’s functions and activities, Information on Migrant Recruitment Advisor (MRA) application, the Law in Malaysia which protects migrant workers, migrant workers’ rights in Malaysia, the Role of Trade Unions in protecting all workers in Malaysia and Organizing migrant workers to become union members.
In addition, migrant workers have been trained on how to join trade unions and engage in the process of negotiating a collective agreement.
At the end of this workshop, we have identified a number of issues involving the forced labor matters arising at their workplace that the participants have submitted.
The Migrant workers issues will be handled by the MTUC MRC with the intervention of the authorities in accordance to the labour laws and the 2014 ILO Protocol and Recommendation on Forced Labour.
MTUC congratulates the MRC Coordinator and the Officers who have sacrificed their rest days despite their busy weekdays for their passion in assisting the migrant workers.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com