DPM Fadillah calls for intensified efforts against forced labour, human trafficking in Malaysia

KUCHING (Aug 25): It is imperative that Malaysia step up its efforts against forced labour and human trafficking in the country, said Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the country has been upgraded to Tier 2 in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report issued by the United States Department of State in June this year.

Previously, Malaysia was ranked at Tier 2 Watch List in 2023 and the last time the country was at Tier 2 was in 2017.

“Through the strong efforts taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources and all relevant ministries and agencies, we have been upgraded to Tier 2 this year.

“This effort needs to continue to ensure that we not only maintain our position but also to upgrade ourselves to Tier 1. That is our goal,” said Fadillah when officiating the Convention Against Workers Exploitation at Borneo Convention Center Kuching (BCCK) here today.

He pointed out that though cases of forced labour and human trafficking in Malaysia were considerably low, there were still two reported cases in Peninsular Malaysia between January and July this year.

“In 2023, a total of 12 cases were reported of which 11 cases were reported in the Peninsula and one in Sarawak, while in 2022, there were 15 cases in Peninsular Malaysia and one in Sabah,” he said.

In this regard, Fadillah hoped to see more programmes such as the Convention Against Workers Exploitation being organised not only at the employment sector level but also at the school level.

“We have to understand that this practice of forced labour affects not only individuals or companies, but it can also seriously affect the image of the country.

“If our position falls back to Tier 3, this will have an impact on the trading sector where the export of our goods has to go through a stringent process,” he said.

On the convention, he said the one-day event was organised by the Ministry of Human Resources through the Sarawak Labour Department (JTK) with the objective of raising awareness on issues and legislation related to forced labor and the crime of human trafficking.

Themed ‘Obligation to Prevent and Fight Forced Labor,’ the convention saw presentations which covered topics such as ‘Obligations of Employers in Combating Forced Labor Practices,’ ‘International Labor Instruments Related to Forced Labour,’ TIP Report, Wage Policy and Implementation in Malaysia, and Employers’ Best Practices in Preventing and Combating the Crime of Human Trafficking.

Also present were Deputy State Secretary (Administration) Datu Buckland Bangik, Ministry of Human Resources deputy secretary-general (Operations) Sutekno Ahmad Belon, and JTK Sarawak director Awang Raduan Awang Omar.