Malaysia must work to improve its labour image, trafficking issues

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 --  Malaysia must work to improve its image on issues concerning forced labour and human trafficking or risk being left out economically in the region.

Citing the recent banning of certain Malaysian manufactured products and the recent Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2021, which placed Malaysia in Tier 3, labour experts said the country needs to reclaim its place as preferred manufacturing destination.

North South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira cautioned that Malaysia could lose investors and fall behind economically among Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries as labour conditions improved elsewhere.

“Investors, particularly those from the West, cannot take the risk of coming to countries seen as abusing workers. If steps are not taken to improve the situation on the ground, it will hurt us economically as investors may pull out seeing that we can't manage foreign workers,” he said.

He explained that the issue of forced labour and human trafficking needed to be viewed holistically as the former is typically the result of the latter, with both needing to be given due attention and resolved.

Adrian said Malaysian policymakers should not view the TIP report and bans on Malaysian products in some countries over allegations of forced labor negatively, and instead seize the initiative to revamp the country’s labor image.

“We need to take the initiative and implement certain reforms, especially to improve the welfare of foreign workers, improve conditions for domestic workers and cut off local industries from channels that are supplying them with illegal workers.

“Workers and industry leaders need to coordinate more effectively under the oversight of labour unions and the Human Resources Ministry. Unionisation of workers will also demonstrate to investors that these workers have channels to raise their complaints,” he added. 

Center for Market Education chief executive officer (CEO), Dr Carmelo Ferlito said Malaysia must strike a delicate balance in ensuring decent working conditions while avoiding to have too strict regulations.

“There is a delicate balance between the "must" of granting humane conditions to the workers and avoiding to have too strict regulations which would eliminate opportunities for these migrants in search for a better living. 

“We probably do not need more regulations but better enforcement of existing rules. In this regard, the regulations on housing for the workers, we need to step up in terms of enforcement,” he said.

Carmelo warned that Malaysia could face difficulties in the long run, particularly from Western countries, but also competition from regional neighbours as labour conditions improved in those countries, leading to labour shortages locally.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan had previously said import bans on Top Glove products by the US Department of Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) had tarnished the country’s image, with steps being taken to resolve some of the issues raised.

He also said the ministry will continue to give attention to labour issues, especially those involving foreign workers, and continue to implement improvements to existing initiatives including enforcement of the Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities 1990 (Act 446) was also tightened in line with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) 2007 so as to increase the total number of convictions regarding the issue of forced labour.

-- BERNAMA