Trade Unions Sign MOU to Organize Migrant Workers in Malaysia

In conjunction with the 2011 International Migrants Day (December 18), trade unions from Malaysia and throughout the Asia Pacific region have committed to enhance their cooperation to organize and promote the rights of migrant workers and their families. 

The Regional offices of the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), Union Network International (UNI Global Union), Public Services International (PSI)n along with the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC), General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), Nepal Trade Union Congress – Independent (NTUC-I), Asosiasi Serikat Pekerja (ASPEK Indonesia), BWI Nepal Affiliates Council (NAC), UNI Malaysian Liaison Council, and BWI Malaysian Affiliates Coordination Council jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – Mutual Regional Cooperation for Organising and Promoting the Rights of Migrant Workers in Malaysia. 

Speaking about the need to harness cooperation between trade unions for migrant workers, Apolinar Tolentino, Regional Representative of the BWI Asia Pacific Region stated that “Malaysia, with its leading role in the region, must lead the way in protecting migrant workers and their families." 

Khalid Atan, President of MTUC stressed that “migrant workers, whether documented or undocumented, are more often than not exploited and therefore trade unions should provide mechanisms to ensure their access to redress in cases of exploitation.” 

Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal, President of UNI Malaysian Liaison Office President reiterated that the “trade unions in Malaysia are committed to serve the migrant workers and through this joint effort will reach out to a wider migrant community and ensure that they are not exploited." 

According to Christopher Ng, Regional Secretary of UNI APRO, "the MOU and the cooperation amongst the various unions is a positive move to serve the large pool of migrant workers in Malaysia." 

Bishnu Rimal, President of GEFONT stressed that the migrant workers played a vital role in the economic development of the country of destination and therefore it is important that their basic rights at the work place are respected without any discrimination. 

Trade unions that are part of this MOU agreed to further strengthen migrant workers’ rights to self organization and access to basic social facilities and recognition of their contribution in economic development through orchestrated organising campaigns, policy advocacy and alliance building. 

As an organising tool, the MOU will develop an SMS Helpline, providing a more convenient way for migrant workers to seek advice and assistance and contact trade unions for help. The SMS Helpline will also allow trade unions to gather more accurate and up to date information about what kinds of problems workers are facing and how these issues are being dealt with by their employers, the Malaysian government and the workers’ embassies. The SMS Helpline will be launched early in 2012. 
Currently there are over two million migrant workers in Malaysia, with 40%-60% of all construction workers in Malaysia migrant workers. 

Tolentino added that “the cooperation is a platform for constructive engagement with the Malaysian government to develop a policy framework reflecting both the needs of the national labour market and rights as well as interest of migrant workers and their families."