Forced Labor in Malaysia

Malaysia’s government and companies must address mounting allegations of workplace abuse of migrant laborers who fuel the country’s economy, or face risks to its export-reliant growth model. 

We no longer can afford to be in denial. FYI, we are known to be a perennial offender!

In the past two years, as far as I can ascertain, at least six Malaysian firms, including Top Glove, Supermax Corp Bhd, Smart Glove, Brightway Group, Sime Darby Plantation and FGV Holdings, have faced US import bans over allegations of forced labor. 

The country has for decades banked on migrant workers to power mainstay manufacturing and agriculture, becoming an integral part of the global supply chain for products as diverse as semiconductors, iPhone components, medical gloves and palm oil. But as the reliance on foreign labour increased, so have complaints of abusive working and living conditions for workers, who come mainly from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal. 

It is claimed that the legal framework in Malaysia allows, and indeed sometimes insists on, practices which are on a collision course with the ILO 11 indicators of forced labor. 

Therefore, we must urgently scrutinize and rectify and strengthen our labor laws and enhance enforcement, while companies should invest to ensure better conditions for their workers. 

On Sunday, Liverpool were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. 

In fact, Spurs took the lead in the thirteenth minute – but Diogo Jota levelled with an outstanding header via Andrew Robertson's cross just twenty-two minutes later. Robertson then headed the Reds in front in the sixty-ninth minute, only for Spurs to even the score after a mistake by Alisson four minutes later in an open and frenetic game. 

Still, I think a blatant red card was missed in the first half and a nailed-on penalty wasn’t given. Anyway, I suppose, on balance, I’ll take a draw.