Malaysia aims to curb forced labour in the country by 2030
Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources organised late last month a workshop among various groups to review the country's new draft plan to stamp out forced labour by 2030.
Representatives from employers, workers, the government, and civil society gathered on November 20 and 21 for the workshop, which received technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The participants of the workshop tackled the draft of Malaysia's next National Action Plan on Forced Labour (NAP-FL) for the period 2026-2030, according to an ILO press release.
"The action plan that will be developed for 2026–2030 must be proactive, effective, and commit to the nation's aspiration of eliminating forced labour by 2030," said Rafea'ah Binti Nahar, undersecretary of the Policy Division, Ministry of Human Resources, in a statement.
Participants in the event discussed the elements of the plan and examined the proposals for a strengthened governance structure to support implementation in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak.
According to the ILO, the draft plan covers renewed commitments to prevention and stronger governance of labour migration and recruitment. It also includes improved enforcement and compliance systems, and expanded protection and remedy for victims of forced labour.
Malaysia's plan on forced labour
The draft plan comes as Malaysia's previous NAP-FL 2021–25 expires this year.
Yvonne Tan, a Senior Researcher in Social Policy and National Integration at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, noted that the plan's success in eradicating forced labour by 2030 "has been limited."
"Under the current model, migrant workers often have to bear exorbitant fees charged by private recruitment agencies and intermediaries," Tan said in an article published on the Lowy Institute website.
"These fees often plunge migrant workers into debt bondage, placing them in a cycle of debt and dependency that makes them vulnerable to exploitation."
A zero-cost migration model, however, offers a promising path forward, according to the senior researcher.
She pointed out that it would need careful implementation and monitoring to make the plan work, such as introducing labour inspectors and effective grievance mechanisms for workers.
"Malaysia's struggle to eliminate forced labour cannot be fully resolved through surface-level reforms alone," Tan said. "It requires addressing the root cause: a migration system that financially exploits vulnerable workers before they even begin employment."
