Press Release: In conjunction of International Migrants Day: 18 Dec 2017

17 December 2017 Print page

 

In conjunction with the International Migrant Day, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress expresses its solidarity to the millions of migrants who are working and seeking refuges across the world due to the suppressive political, socio economy conditions in their home countries.

 

Many of them experience the extreme inhuman bondage labour like working conditions and denied of basic labour rights and human rights. Regardless of their contributions to the economy development of the countries that are currently working for. Yet, they are facing prejudices, racism and xenophobia that caused tremendous humiliation and discrimination.

 

Malaysia is one of the key country receiving millions of migrant workers. According to the latest statistic from the Ministry of Human Resource, there are There 1,732,944 (1.7 million) documented migrant workers in Malaysia, which is 12 per cent out of the private sector labour forces of 13.2 million.

 

However, to date, various reports, research and also victims’ testimonies, we witnessed where there are still many migrant workers are facing the precarious working-living conditions and denied of rights to association even in Malaysia. Many were victimised due to trafficking, the bad recruitment process that lead to the deteriorate of working condition and rights and also undocumented.

 

Therefore, we call upon the commitment of  the Malaysia government to endorse the Conventions related to the protections of migrants’ workers and other important convention to adhere to the international labour standard of protection.

 

We also need to amend our labour law to recognise domestic workers as workers and allow for unionisation. To regulate the legislation to ensure that domestic workers are is entitled to have rest day at least a day in a week and working of 8 hours a day, as enjoys the same protection like other workers in Malaysia.

 

Malaysia government must regulate the cost of Levy and also the burden of recruitment fee and placement to be paid by the Employers, not by the workers.  Many reports had revealed that workers had spent lots of money for agencies and yet being put under precarious working conditions and also the substitute contract that against the law.

 

Therefore, we e are calling for the right to work and social protection for refugees, equal treatment for migrant workers, opening up of regular migration channels, an end to abusive recruitment practices, fair representation of the multiple dimensions of migration in the media; and denouncing expressions of racism, xenophobia and intolerance.

 

In order to ensure the protection of the migrant workers and their rights, in conjunction of International migrant day, MTUC as the affiliate of International Trade Union Congress announces the project of the Migrant Recruitment Advisor (MRA) – Malaysia that aims to give a voice to the migrant workers in Malaysia and all over the world through an online platform that is being developed.

 

The pilot project is currently organised in Indonesia, Philippine, Nepal and Malaysia.

 

ITUC started the MRA pilot project to raise awareness of migrant workers about fair recruitment and safe migration. As we know that due to lack of government legislation as well as lack of protection and monitoring, the migrant workers are vulnerable to fall into the hands of abusive recruiters and employers. Case by case, workplace by workplace, workers and their unions have been exposing the scandals of modern slavery.

 

Recruitment practices which lure workers with promises of jobs which don’t exist, salaries which aren’t paid, and charge unscrupulous loans forcing workers into years of debt bondage are deceptive and fraudulent. In the search for a better future for their families, many workers are still unaware of their rights or which recruiters are making false promises.

 

In order to clean up the recruitment practices of unscrupulous recruiters, we need stronger laws, and fair recruitment based on human and labour rights standards. History shows us that before laws are changed, it’s often workers who act first.

 

Together we will need to unscrupulous recruitment practices, we will eliminate slavery in our supply chains and we will end modern slavery.

 

Therefore, we call upon Malaysia government:

Stop anti-immigration and xenophobic rhetoric and highlight benefits of migration.

Recognise the essential role that migrants play in today’s globalised economy.

Ensure the right to work and social protection for refugees.

Integrate migrant workers and refugees in national labour markets, through active labour market policies.

Respect, protect and fulfil the rights of all workers, including migrant workers, as laid out in international labour and human rights treaties.

Ratify and implement the 1990 UN Convention and the ILO Convention 143.