Malaysia plans to join SDG Alliance 8.7 in commitment to eradicate labour issues

As a pathfinder country, Malaysia will support the Alliance's aim to accelerate the elimination of forced labour, modern slavery, and child labour by 2030.

Alongside initiatives tackling forced labour in the country, Malaysia is committed to becoming one of the pathfinder countries which support the sustainable development goal (SDG) target 8.7 which aims to accelerate the elimination of forced labour, modern slavery, and child labour by 2030.

During the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland from 12 to 15 June 2023, Minister of Human Resources Sivakumar Varatharaju explained several national initiatives dedicated to providing fair protection to workers. Such efforts include the amendment of the Employment Act 1955, the amendment to Act 446, the expansion of social protection coverage to foreign workers through the Work Disaster Scheme, and Malaysia planning to join the SDG Alliance 8.7 as a pathfinder country.

A media statement by Minister Sivakumar on 25 June 2023 (Sunday) reaffirmed the Ministry of Human Resources' (Kementerian Sumber Manusia, or KSM) commitment to combatting forced labour through the following:

1. KSM will continue to intensify enforcement measures in combatting various labour issues including forced labour and "will never compromise for any reason whatsoever on any complaint or information regarding forced labour."

2. KSM, through the Manpower Department of Peninsular Malaysia (Jabatan Tneaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia, or JTKSM),  will carry out as many inspection operations as possible based on legal provisions. These will be either in an integrated or phased manner. It will also act on any complaint if there is an element of forced labour, even if it only has one of the 11 indicators of forced labour outlined by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

3. It emphasises providing standard accommodation for workers. Malaysia has amended the Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990, which was implemented to enforce employers to provide minimum standards of housing and facilities, thus improving the quality of life for employees. In addressing inequality and providing inclusive social protection for all, Malaysia has extended social security protection for occupational injury schemes to foreign workers with effect from 1 January 2019. This move, it was shared, is in line with the core principles of the ILO's Decent Work Agenda.

4. Efforts in solving the issue of forced labour will also continue to be enforced, as strong evidence in line with the commitment of countries that have ratified the ILO convention on forced labour, namely CO29— Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No.29) on 11 November 1957, the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, and 1930 (No.29) which was ratified on 21 March 2022.

With the above in mind, Minister Sivakumar shared that the Ministry will also continue to work with stakeholders such as the Ministry of the Interior, Government Departments/Agencies of foreign countries, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and civil society organisations to meet the objectives of the National Action Plan on Anti-Trafficking People 2021-2025 (NAPTIP 3.0), and the National Action Plan on Forced Labour 2021- 2025 (NAPFL).

"KSM once again reiterates that the ministry will not compromise on any labour issue, especially forced labour and human trafficking. Operations and enforcement in the labour industry will remain intensified and implemented to ensure that employers across all sectors will continue to comply with the acts enforced by KSM."

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