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 American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations
(AFL-CIO) and the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said this would be their
stand unless their respective governments adequately address the deteriorating
state of workers’ rights and labour standards.
<P>They warned they would
strongly oppose the continued negotiation of the trade talks and would work together
to ensure that it was not implemented.</P><P>“We share concerns that violations
of workers’ human rights have reached crisis levels, while secure and well-paying
jobs have been replaced with casual and irregular work in both countries,”
said AFL-CIO president John Sweeney and MTUC secretary-general G Rajasekaran (photo)
in a joint declaration.</P><P>If things continue as they are and migrant workers’
human and job-related rights continue to be routinely violated, it will result
in dire consequences which will ultimately destablise society in both countries,
they said.</P><P>Malaysian and US negotiators concluded the fourth round of negotiations
less than two weeks ago in San Francisco, but have expressed doubts that talks
can conclude by July as originally scheduled.</P><P>Among the sticking points
are provisions relating to government procurement, the services sector and investment.
Malaysia has remained reluctant, in particular, to commit to US proposals for
chapters on labour and environment.</P><P>According to AFL-CIO and MTUC, the FTA
is based on the same ‘failed model’ as the North American Free Trade
Agreement (Nafta) with its weak protection of workers’ rights and the undermining
of governments’ ability to regulate in the public interest and provide essential
public services.</P><P>Nafta’s protection of multinational corporate investments
and profits, on the other hand, are “excessive”.</P><P>“Indeed,
there is evidence that the Malaysian government continues to oppose any labour
protections in the trade agreement, based on a misguided notion that achieving
economic growth and international competitiveness must be at the expense of core
labour rights,” they said.</P><P>“We believe that a more just and humane
integration, a system designed to eliminate the enormous social and economic inequities
at both national and international levels, is possible and desirable.”</P><P>At
minimum, they said, it must incorporate strong and effective mechanisms to protect
labour and social rights; compensation policies to correct inequities resulting
from restructuring; mechanisms for transparency and participation; clear policies
against corruption; fair rules for trade and investment, services, procurement,
agriculture, and the environment; and a more human migration regime.</P><P><I>Source:
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/62815</I>
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