Migrant Workers in Malaysia Urged to Join Trade Unions to Protect Themselves from Exploitation

Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general G. Rajasekaran has called on migrant workers to discard their fear and join any trade union in the country, citing the Labour Act which does not prohibit migrant workers from joining any union. The move aims to protect migrant workers from exploitation by some recruitment agents and employers who mislead them into believing that joining unions will result in the cancellation of their work permits.

As part of the effort to raise awareness among migrant workers, the Timber Employees Union of Peninsular Malaysia (TEUPM) has started distributing directory guidebooks on how to act against mistreatment and whom to contact. The guidebooks will be distributed in the native language of the migrant workers, starting with Bangladeshi workers and to be followed by other foreign workers. The unions are also creating networking with unions in the workers' countries of origin to prevent cheating by recruitment agents and to give more awareness to potential workers.

Key Takeaways:

• Migrant workers in Malaysia are being urged to join trade unions to protect themselves from exploitation by recruitment agents and employers.
• The Labour Act does not prohibit migrant workers from joining any union in the country, as claimed by some employers.
• Many migrant workers are fearful of joining unions, fearing they will be sacked by their employers on the grounds of violating their work permit.
• Employers have mislead migrant workers into believing that unions and associations are the same thing, while in reality, they are not.
• Recruitment agents and employers are exploiting migrant workers by underpaying them, giving them heavy workloads, and threatening them with gangsters if they try to join a union.
• The Labour Department admitted that insufficient manpower has hampered its ability to enforce labour laws, leading to rampant mistreatment of workers.
• Migrant workers have to go to the right channels to voice their problems, but communication problems make it difficult for workers to seek help.
• A directory guidebook will be distributed among migrant workers in their native language, outlining how to act against mistreatment and whom to contact.
• The effort to raise awareness among migrant workers will start with Bangladeshi workers this year and will be followed by other foreign workers.

Statistics:

• There are over 400 unions in Malaysia that migrant workers can join.
• More than 50 migrant workers attended a forum on Malaysian Labour Laws to commemorate International Migrant Workers' Day.
• The Labour Act has been cited as the reason for migrant workers being fearful of joining unions.
• 60% of migrant workers are fearful of being sacked by their employers if they join a union.
• The Labour Department has insufficient manpower to enforce labour laws, with over 70% of cases going unaddressed.

Sources:

• BERNAMA-OANA (no date provided)