Nearly one-third of Malaysian domestic workers in forced labour conditions
The International Labour Organisation identified conditions such as excessive working hours, unpaid overtime, low wages, restricted movement, and being unable to quit among its indicators of forced labour.
According to a survey issued on Thursday by the United Nations labour agency, nearly one-third of migrant workers employed in domestic families in Malaysia are subjected to forced labour.
Excessive working hours, unpaid overtime, poor wages, restricted movement, and inability to quit are all signs of forced labour, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The survey, based on interviews with 1,201 domestic workers in Southeast Asia, found 29% of those in Malaysia faced such conditions, compared to 7% and 4% in its neighbours Singapore and Thailand, respectively.
Related Articles
Malaysia and Singapore did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the survey findings.
Wannarat Srisuksai, a spokesperson for Thailand’s labour ministry, told Reuters the treatment of domestic workers in the country has improved following laws introduced in 2012 to protect the group.
In all three countries, the domestic workers surveyed on average worked hours “well in excess” of those legislated for other workers, and none earned the minimum wage, the ILO said.
“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,” said Anna Engblom, chief technical adviser at the ILO programme, which conducted the study.
The ILO urged Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand to ratify U.N. conventions on domestic workers and forced labour, to recognise the skilled nature of domestic work, and ensure migration pathways that did not tie the workers to their employers.
Households in Asia often employ domestic workers – usually women from developing nations such as Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines – to carry out housekeeping tasks including cooking, cleaning, childcare, and gardening.
Malaysia has faced criticism in recent years following multiple incidents of Indonesian domestic workers being abused in Malaysian households, while several of its companies have been accused of exploiting migrant labourers.
Indonesians make up about 80% of domestic workers in Malaysia, according to the ILO. Last year, Malaysia and Indonesia signed an agreement to improve protections for domestic workers.
With inputs from agencies
Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,
India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
also read
Abolition of caste-based reservation untenable as long as Dalits suffer atrocities, prejudice; a rebuttal to Justice Katju
Discrimination against Dalits continues even today in the form of honour killings, and other caste-based crimes like untouchability, etc.
Wildlife Week 2019: Indian fisherfolk transitioning away from tradition is affecting fisheries nationwide
Commercial, industrialized fishing operations seek out migrant labour to fill their large manpower needs.
Satyarthi urges gov to end child trafficking, bonded labour cases in 30 days
Satyarthi also congratulated the government for the new Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour Scheme.