[Malaysia] Government will tackle forced labour practices

The Malaysian government is committed to tackling the issue of forced labour in the country by ensuring that unhealthy labour practices are overcome through the enforcement of related laws, The Star reports.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim announced that amendments to the Employment Act 1955 - which will be read for the second time in Parliament in March - were among the measures being taken to achieve this goal.

"We are always committed in overcoming unhealthy practices including forced labour in this country which has become an issue internationally.

"We are committed in overcoming (weaknesses) if any.

"Actually, it has to do with some technicality. The workers who are said to be forced labourers actually come with their families and bring along underaged children to help in certain sectors, so we have to ensure it does not happen again," The minister told reporters on February 12.

Awang said allegations of forced labour in Malaysia were not as serious at present, as a result of the government’s decision to postpone the recruitment of foreign workers when COVID-19 hit.

The minister said that choice resulted in several sectors - particularly plantations and agriculture in addition to housemaids for domestic services - experiencing critical manpower shortages.

"Even labourers are not available during the pandemic. All sectors request for manpower, especially plantations and housemaids.

"We are now solving this issue with Indonesia and Bangladesh,” he said.

Source: The Star

(Quotes via original reporting)

The Malaysian government is committed to tackling the issue of forced labour in the country by ensuring that unhealthy labour practices are overcome through the enforcement of related laws, The Star reports.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim announced that amendments to the Employment Act 1955 - which will be read for the second time in Parliament in March - were among the measures being taken to achieve this goal.

"We are always committed in overcoming unhealthy practices including forced labour in this country which has become an issue internationally.

"We are committed in overcoming (weaknesses) if any.

"Actually, it has to do with some technicality. The workers who are said to be forced labourers actually come with their families and bring along underaged children to help in certain sectors, so we have to ensure it does not happen again," The minister told reporters on February 12.

Awang said allegations of forced labour in Malaysia were not as serious at present, as a result of the government’s decision to postpone the recruitment of foreign workers when COVID-19 hit.

The minister said that choice resulted in several sectors - particularly plantations and agriculture in addition to housemaids for domestic services - experiencing critical manpower shortages.

"Even labourers are not available during the pandemic. All sectors request for manpower, especially plantations and housemaids.

"We are now solving this issue with Indonesia and Bangladesh,” he said.

Source: The Star

(Quotes via original reporting)