In a groundbreaking survey released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) today, alarming statistics reveal that nearly one-third of migrant workers employed in domestic households in Malaysia are subjected to forced labour conditions. The findings shed light on a pervasive issue affecting the region, with Malaysia leading in the prevalence of these abuses.
According to media reports, the ILO survey, conducted with 1,201 domestic workers in Southeast Asia, highlighted various indicators of forced labour, including excessive working hours, unpaid overtime, low wages, restricted movement, and an inability to quit. Shockingly, 29% of domestic workers in Malaysia reported facing such conditions, in stark contrast to 7% in Singapore and only 4% in Thailand.
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In response to the survey's revelations, Malaysia and Singapore have not yet provided comments. However, Mr. Wannarat Srisuksai, a spokesperson for Thailand's labor ministry, noted that significant improvements have been made in Thailand following the introduction of protective laws for domestic workers in 2012.
Across all three countries, the survey highlighted that domestic workers worked significantly longer hours than legally stipulated, and none received the minimum wage. These disparities underscore the urgent need for enhanced protection and support for domestic workers.
Expressing grave concern over the findings, Ms. Anna Engblom, the chief technical adviser at the ILO program responsible for the study, emphasized the critical role of domestic work in society and the necessity to provide adequate protection. She declared, "Domestic work is one of the most important tasks in our society, and yet provided with the least protection. This can no longer be accepted."
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The ILO has called on Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand to ratify U.N. conventions on domestic workers and forced labor, recognizing the skilled nature of domestic work and establishing migration pathways that do not bind workers to their employers. These measures aim to rectify the current dire situation faced by domestic workers in the region.
Notably, households in Asia frequently employ domestic workers, predominantly women from developing nations such as Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, to perform essential housekeeping tasks like cooking, cleaning, childcare, and gardening.
Malaysia has faced significant criticism in recent years due to numerous instances of Indonesian domestic workers being subjected to abuse in Malaysian households. Additionally, several Malaysian companies have been accused of exploiting migrant laborers. Indonesians constitute approximately 80% of domestic workers in Malaysia, as reported by the ILO. To address these concerns, Malaysia and Indonesia signed an agreement last year to enhance protections for domestic workers.
