IN their desperate attempt to escape hardship, migrant workers, especially those from South and Southeast Asia, have long flocked to Malaysia — a land they perceive as full of opportunity.
During the economic boom years starting in the 1980s, migrants came by air, boat and on foot, many legally, but most without passports or money, only strong backs and the dream of a better life.
Their numbers grew from 500,000 in the late 1970s to two million by the mid-1990s, and 2.3 million in 2010. In May 2024, 3.4 million documented foreign workers made up 10 per cent of the country’s population.
Now, the government is putting on the brakes. The foreign workforce has fallen by 13 per cent to 2.13 million, reflecting the impact of the multi-tier levy system, which froze new quotas to reduce dependency.
Migrants have traditionally worked in the manufacturing, construction and plantation sectors, but many have moved into services and jobs shunned by Malaysians — domestic work, garbage collection, waiting tables, cooking, gardening, road sweeping and even music.
This pool of cheap labour has often been exploited. Last year alone, the Human Resources Ministry received 11,760 complaints involving salary disputes and breaches of contracts.
These were mild compared with other offences: wage theft, passport confiscation, excessive working hours, denial of leave, physical and verbal abuse, and overcrowded, cramped and unhygienic living conditions.
Such environments amount to deceptive recruitment and debt bondage. In response to international scrutiny and pressure from non-governmental organisations, the ministry has acted against errant employers, stepping up enforcement and prosecuting offenders with heavy fines, jail terms and blacklisting them.
In one case, the Industrial Court in November 2024 awarded RM760,000 in back pay to 93 migrant workers, a ruling later upheld by the Shah Alam High Court.
Yet this was a hollow victory, as legal loopholes remain. For instance, domestic workers are still excluded from the Employment Act. Migrants who seek justice often face retaliation: some are reported for immigration offences and end up being detained, while their employers evade wage payments.
This persistent abuse shows a serious gap in enforcement and regulation that must be closed through firm action if Malaysia is to protect its reputation and maintain credibility in the global supply chain.
In the long run, changing the attitudes of unscrupulous employers and agents towards humane treatment of migrants is the only real solution.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
