Articles on Migration
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Year 2025
Year 2024
Year 2023
Year 2025
| As violence in Myanmar escalates, Adrian Pereira from NSI discusses how ASEAN should step in to stabilise the situation ahead of next month's elections. |
Charles Santiago says the requirement for each Bangladeshi recruitment agency to have a permanent office of a minimum area of 10,000 sq ft is simply unfeasible for smaller yet ethical businesses.
A recent landmark court ruling has awarded RM760,000 in compensation to 93 migrant workers stranded in Malaysia after falling victim to a worker quota fraud. This comes as Malaysia signed a new trade agreement with the US that includes stronger labour protection standards aligned with the ILO. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of the North-South Initiative, explains what all this could mean for migrant justice. |
The Malaysian Industrial Commercial & Service Employers Association (MICSEA) is calling on the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) to issue clear and structured guidelines on wage payment timelines for foreign workers, following a recent court ruling that employers must pay wages from the moment these workers arrive in Malaysia. |
| Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the Shah Alam High Court's ruling on unpaid wages to foreign workers should serve as a clear warning to employers, as withholding salaries is a serious breach of Malaysia's labour laws. |
A human rights lawyer has criticised the government for being “recalcitrant on migrant legislative reform” despite Malaysia being one of the largest importers of foreign labour in Asia. |
The Shah Alam High Court yesterday upheld a Labour Court ruling last year awarding over RM760,000 in back pay to 93 migrant workers who were left stranded without jobs upon arriving in Malaysia in 2023. |
| Panelists at the ASEAN for the Peoples Conference 2025 in Jakarta highlight the need for a region-wide framework to protect migrant labour. |
Gabungan eHailing Malaysia (GEM) menyifatkan Rang Undang-Undang (RUU) Pekerja 2025 yang diluluskan di Dewan Rakyat hari ini bukan sekadar dokumen tetapi perisai sosial yang akan melindungi rakyat daripada risiko pekerjaan tidak menentu.
North-South Initiative says the law should be passed at the current parliamentary session as gig workers face significant insecurity and risk in their jobs.
YB Tuan Steven Sim Chee Keong, Menteri Sumber Manusia
Sidang media berkaitan RUU Pekerja GIG
| Putrajaya has decided to reopen foreign worker quota applications for selected sectors and subsectors to meet immediate industry need, sparking debate over its timing and implications. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of the North South Initiative NGO talks to us about the shortcomings of Malaysia's migrant workers policies and how to improve them. |
A senior DAP member has taken party adviser Lim Guan Eng to task over his remarks in the Dewan Rakyat that there is no need to mandate a minimum wage or Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for existing migrant workers. |
| Binding labour agreement crucial to ending modern slavery of migrant workers: NGO |
| The government's move to develop its own refugee registration system has raised serious concerns from at least one human rights advocate. |
| Malaysian rights activists have cautiously welcomed the introduction in parliament of a proposed bill recognizing and safeguarding the rights of gig workers, warning it should not be a “token gesture.” |
Frustration over unauthorised fee collection at a migrant workers’ hostel in Bukit Mertajam boiled over into a riot on June 20, with dozens of workers arrested after a company van was vandalised outside the premises. |
| Lebih kurang 1.12 juta rakyat Malaysia terlibat dalam ekonomi gig dengan saiz pasaran ekonomi berjumlah RM1.33 bilion. Sejauh mana RUU Pekerja Gig 2025 mengiktiraf status dan sumbangan serta melindungi pekerja gig dalam pembangunan ekonomi negara? Ikuti diskusi dan analisis Dialog Poket Rakyat bersama barisan ahli panel jam 8.30 malam ini. |
Watch and listen to three authors of SUARAM's Malaysia Human Rights Report 2024 explain 2024's highlights and 2025 prospects in their respective fields, by the chapter.
Authors:
Prishanth Linggaraj, Policy & Legal Research Officer, C4 Centre
Dr Asha Rathina Pandi, Head of Research, North South Initiative
Eow Shiang Yen, Communications Officer, INITIATE.MY
| North South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira says there is a lack of updates on the directive that governs management of refugees. |
Year 2024
Back in March, the government announced that the deadline to hire migrant workers was brought forward to May 31st, instead of September 30th, and that unused foreign worker quotas would be cancelled after that date. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director, North-South Initiative explains why this deadline was brought forward and if new policies are needed to avoid exploitation since that has an impact on Malaysia's reputation.
| Pegawai imigresen menyatakan kerajaan menawarkan program pengampunan untuk pekerja asing tanpa izin untuk pulang secara sah sebelum 1 Januari. |
| In 2025, foreigners without proper documentation could face fines, prison if they remain in the country. |
| Migrant labour rights groups have insisted that centralised labour quarters (CLQs) should be allowed near residential areas but stresses the need for training to help foreign workers adapt to Malaysian culture. |
| A former MP has urged the government to act swiftly on Bangladesh’s request that two businessmen be extradited to assist in a probe into allegations of money laundering, extortion and human trafficking. |
With the rising cost of living, unaffordable housing, rising inequality and stagnating wages, Malaysians face mounting challenges. This is especially true if you’re working class, even if you’re middle class.
Since the tabling of Budget 2025 is just around the corner, on today’s episode, we take a look at what needs to be addressed in the upcoming budget to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots.
| Human rights groups have slammed the government for allowing a Cambodian domestic worker to be deported after she allegedly criticised the country’s former leader, Hun Sen, on social media. |
The government has been urged to walk its talk on support for refugees by ratifying the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
Human rights groups said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s support for Palestinian refugees was commendable but stressed the need for Malaysia to address shortcomings in the handling of other refugee communities.
An activist has called on the home ministry to promptly list all SOPs for managing foreign workers, following its takeover of the foreign worker division’s functions from the human resource ministry.
| Pengambilan dan pengurusan pekerja asing di Malaysia kini terletak di bawah bidang kuasa Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) sebagai agensi tunggal bagi mengelak pertindihan fungsi namun ia membangkitkan kebimbangan aktivis tentang pemusatan kuasa agensi keselamatan berkenaan. |
| Saringan ketat perlu dilaksanakan ke atas majikan yang ingin membawa masuk dan menggaji pekerja asing bagi mengelakkan eksploitasi dan penindasan tenaga kerja asing, kata aktivis pertubuhan bukan kerajaan berkaitan buruh. |
| While Malaysia’s upgrade to Tier 2 in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) 2024 report is a positive sign, migrants rights activists say more can be done to improve the situation in Malaysia. |
Pengarah Eksekutif North-South Initiative Adrian Pereira berkata aktivis terkejut kerana pemerdagangan manusia dikatakan ‘masih berleluasa’.
Malaysia has been upgraded to Tier 2 in the US State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report for strides in addressing human trafficking. However, local activists have critiques about the report. We hear from Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of the North South Initiative. |
| Activists have expressed scepticism over Malaysia’s improvement to Tier 2 in the US State Department's 2024 Trafficking in Persons report as situations on the ground contradict this. Additionally, the nation is on the Ranking 5 level in the ITUC 2024 global rights index – a category for nations providing no guarantee of workers' rights. |
| The US State Department says this is because there are significant efforts to eliminate human trafficking. |
| Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu bagi Hak Asasi Manusia pada Selasa berkata Malaysia perlu mengembalikan akses ke pusat tahanan imigresen kepada agensi pelarian PBB dan yang lain supaya mereka boleh menilai dakwaan ‘keadaan yang teruk serta layanan yang buruk.' |
The influx of migrants at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport is due to local employers rushing to meet tomorrow’s deadline to bring in workers. |
Concerns are mounting among legal circles regarding the treatment of individuals detained in police custody, with lawyers highlighting cases where suspects are deprived of informing their families or accessing legal counsel. |
| Advocates for migrant workers have warned of potential harm in Putrajaya’s decision to bring forward the deadline for recruiting labour from Bangladesh, calling it a rushed and poorly-informed decision that could force employers to cut corners in order to meet the arbitrary target. |
| KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision to terminate the services of agencies that handle visa applications for Bangladeshi migrant workers has been lauded. |
Two NGO leaders say allegations of human rights violations and abuse in immigration detention centres are not surprising.
Stigmatising language in immigration raid reports mislead readers, stoke fear, says human rights activist |
Two key ministries, MoHR and KDN, have emerged as potential custodians of the foreign labour domain
| On 22 February, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said netizens should file official reports about labour rights violations before discussing them on social media. |
| Banning migrant workers from living in housing estates will create divisions in society and a sense of “us versus them”, according to a consumer advocate. |
An activist has welcomed the suggestion for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the migrant workers management system and forced labour problem, saying it would “name and shame” those responsible for migrant worker abuses.
| Beyond the headlines : Diving deep into immigration and recent crackdown on undocumented immigrants by authorities |
Labour advocates have welcomed a proposal by Plantation and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani to impose a fine of RM20,000 to RM30,00 per worker on employers who bring in workers without jobs waiting for them.
The Malaysian Employers Federation and a migrant rights activist are against a suggestion to issue compound fines of RM30,000 to employers who bring in foreign workers but fail to give them jobs.
| The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers has called on the government to expedite the “anti-Ali Baba” law to deal with the issue of undocumented migrant workers in the country. We discuss whether this is, in fact, a way to resolve migrant labour issues in the country, and in a larger sense, what some of the main issues are with the current migrant labour recruitment system. |
Year 2023
| North-South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira said he welcomed reports that Putrajaya is considering an agreement with the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR over its role and responsibility. |
| Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should personally engage with victims of human trafficking and forced labour to address Malaysia’s Tier 3 ranking in the US State Department’s 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, a migrant rights activist said. |
| The Labour Law Reform Coalition says the MACC probe into the recruitment of foreign workers and links to the human resources ministry is alarming. |
The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) has urged the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate corruption in the migrant worker management system. |
| Malaysia is always in the headlines for the wrong reasons over migrant worker issues from how they are recruited, to how we treat them to and the middlemen involved. |
| On the 10th of April, 226 workers from Bangladesh and Nepal were rescued from horrible living conditions at a transit home in Negeri Sembilan. |
| A Pakatan Harapan MP has urged the home ministry to take action against Rohingya traders operating stalls at the Pasar Besar Meru in Klang, a call which a migrant activist labelled “extremely racist and xenophobic”. |
| A human rights activist has urged the government to immediately release the 1,179 children of undocumented migrants who are being held in immigration depots nationwide. |
Giving employers a grace period of six months to comply with labour laws only after they have brought in migrant workers will open up risks of exploitation, said a migrant rights activist. |
| Activists for migrant rights have expressed shock over the deportation of Pakistani journalist Syed Fawad Ali Shah to his home country. |
| There has been public outcry over the decision by the Petaling Jaya City Council to introduce a 90 sen charge for non-Malaysians who use the PJ City Bus service |
Year 2025
As violence in Myanmar escalates, Adrian Pereira from NSI discusses how ASEAN should step in to stabilise the situation ahead of next month's elections.
Charles Santiago says the requirement for each Bangladeshi recruitment agency to have a permanent office of a minimum area of 10,000 sq ft is simply unfeasible for smaller yet ethical businesses.
A recent landmark court ruling has awarded RM760,000 in compensation to 93 migrant workers stranded in Malaysia after falling victim to a worker quota fraud. This comes as Malaysia signed a new trade agreement with the US that includes stronger labour protection standards aligned with the ILO. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of the North-South Initiative, explains what all this could mean for migrant justice.
The Malaysian Industrial Commercial & Service Employers Association (MICSEA) is calling on the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) to issue clear and structured guidelines on wage payment timelines for foreign workers, following a recent court ruling that employers must pay wages from the moment these workers arrive in Malaysia.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the Shah Alam High Court's ruling on unpaid wages to foreign workers should serve as a clear warning to employers, as withholding salaries is a serious breach of Malaysia's labour laws.
A human rights lawyer has criticised the government for being “recalcitrant on migrant legislative reform” despite Malaysia being one of the largest importers of foreign labour in Asia.
The Shah Alam High Court yesterday upheld a Labour Court ruling last year awarding over RM760,000 in back pay to 93 migrant workers who were left stranded without jobs upon arriving in Malaysia in 2023.
Panelists at the ASEAN for the Peoples Conference 2025 in Jakarta highlight the need for a region-wide framework to protect migrant labour.
Gabungan eHailing Malaysia (GEM) menyifatkan Rang Undang-Undang (RUU) Pekerja 2025 yang diluluskan di Dewan Rakyat hari ini bukan sekadar dokumen tetapi perisai sosial yang akan melindungi rakyat daripada risiko pekerjaan tidak menentu.
North-South Initiative says the law should be passed at the current parliamentary session as gig workers face significant insecurity and risk in their jobs.
YB Tuan Steven Sim Chee Keong, Menteri Sumber Manusia
Sidang media berkaitan RUU Pekerja GIG
Putrajaya has decided to reopen foreign worker quota applications for selected sectors and subsectors to meet immediate industry need, sparking debate over its timing and implications. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of the North South Initiative NGO talks to us about the shortcomings of Malaysia's migrant workers policies and how to improve them.
A senior DAP member has taken party adviser Lim Guan Eng to task over his remarks in the Dewan Rakyat that there is no need to mandate a minimum wage or Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for existing migrant workers.
Binding labour agreement crucial to ending modern slavery of migrant workers: NGO
The government's move to develop its own refugee registration system has raised serious concerns from at least one human rights advocate.
Malaysian rights activists have cautiously welcomed the introduction in parliament of a proposed bill recognizing and safeguarding the rights of gig workers, warning it should not be a “token gesture.”
Frustration over unauthorised fee collection at a migrant workers’ hostel in Bukit Mertajam boiled over into a riot on June 20, with dozens of workers arrested after a company van was vandalised outside the premises.
Lebih kurang 1.12 juta rakyat Malaysia terlibat dalam ekonomi gig dengan saiz pasaran ekonomi berjumlah RM1.33 bilion. Sejauh mana RUU Pekerja Gig 2025 mengiktiraf status dan sumbangan serta melindungi pekerja gig dalam pembangunan ekonomi negara? Ikuti diskusi dan analisis Dialog Poket Rakyat bersama barisan ahli panel jam 8.30 malam ini.
Watch and listen to three authors of SUARAM's Malaysia Human Rights Report 2024 explain 2024's highlights and 2025 prospects in their respective fields, by the chapter.
Authors:
Prishanth Linggaraj, Policy & Legal Research Officer, C4 Centre
Dr Asha Rathina Pandi, Head of Research, North South Initiative
Eow Shiang Yen, Communications Officer, INITIATE.MY
North South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira says there is a lack of updates on the directive that governs management of refugees.
Year 2024
Back in March, the government announced that the deadline to hire migrant workers was brought forward to May 31st, instead of September 30th, and that unused foreign worker quotas would be cancelled after that date. Adrian Pereira, Executive Director, North-South Initiative explains why this deadline was brought forward and if new policies are needed to avoid exploitation since that has an impact on Malaysia's reputation.
Pegawai imigresen menyatakan kerajaan menawarkan program pengampunan untuk pekerja asing tanpa izin untuk pulang secara sah sebelum 1 Januari.
In 2025, foreigners without proper documentation could face fines, prison if they remain in the country.
Migrant labour rights groups have insisted that centralised labour quarters (CLQs) should be allowed near residential areas but stresses the need for training to help foreign workers adapt to Malaysian culture.
A former MP has urged the government to act swiftly on Bangladesh’s request that two businessmen be extradited to assist in a probe into allegations of money laundering, extortion and human trafficking.
With the rising cost of living, unaffordable housing, rising inequality and stagnating wages, Malaysians face mounting challenges. This is especially true if you’re working class, even if you’re middle class.
Since the tabling of Budget 2025 is just around the corner, on today’s episode, we take a look at what needs to be addressed in the upcoming budget to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots.
Human rights groups have slammed the government for allowing a Cambodian domestic worker to be deported after she allegedly criticised the country’s former leader, Hun Sen, on social media.
The government has been urged to walk its talk on support for refugees by ratifying the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
Human rights groups said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s support for Palestinian refugees was commendable but stressed the need for Malaysia to address shortcomings in the handling of other refugee communities.
An activist has called on the home ministry to promptly list all SOPs for managing foreign workers, following its takeover of the foreign worker division’s functions from the human resource ministry.
Pengambilan dan pengurusan pekerja asing di Malaysia kini terletak di bawah bidang kuasa Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) sebagai agensi tunggal bagi mengelak pertindihan fungsi namun ia membangkitkan kebimbangan aktivis tentang pemusatan kuasa agensi keselamatan berkenaan.
Saringan ketat perlu dilaksanakan ke atas majikan yang ingin membawa masuk dan menggaji pekerja asing bagi mengelakkan eksploitasi dan penindasan tenaga kerja asing, kata aktivis pertubuhan bukan kerajaan berkaitan buruh.
While Malaysia’s upgrade to Tier 2 in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) 2024 report is a positive sign, migrants rights activists say more can be done to improve the situation in Malaysia.
Pengarah Eksekutif North-South Initiative Adrian Pereira berkata aktivis terkejut kerana pemerdagangan manusia dikatakan ‘masih berleluasa’.
Malaysia has been upgraded to Tier 2 in the US State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report for strides in addressing human trafficking. However, local activists have critiques about the report. We hear from Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of the North South Initiative.
Activists have expressed scepticism over Malaysia’s improvement to Tier 2 in the US State Department's 2024 Trafficking in Persons report as situations on the ground contradict this. Additionally, the nation is on the Ranking 5 level in the ITUC 2024 global rights index – a category for nations providing no guarantee of workers' rights.
The US State Department says this is because there are significant efforts to eliminate human trafficking.
Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu bagi Hak Asasi Manusia pada Selasa berkata Malaysia perlu mengembalikan akses ke pusat tahanan imigresen kepada agensi pelarian PBB dan yang lain supaya mereka boleh menilai dakwaan ‘keadaan yang teruk serta layanan yang buruk.'
The influx of migrants at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport is due to local employers rushing to meet tomorrow’s deadline to bring in workers.
Concerns are mounting among legal circles regarding the treatment of individuals detained in police custody, with lawyers highlighting cases where suspects are deprived of informing their families or accessing legal counsel.
Advocates for migrant workers have warned of potential harm in Putrajaya’s decision to bring forward the deadline for recruiting labour from Bangladesh, calling it a rushed and poorly-informed decision that could force employers to cut corners in order to meet the arbitrary target.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision to terminate the services of agencies that handle visa applications for Bangladeshi migrant workers has been lauded.
Two NGO leaders say allegations of human rights violations and abuse in immigration detention centres are not surprising.
Stigmatising language in immigration raid reports mislead readers, stoke fear, says human rights activist
Two key ministries, MoHR and KDN, have emerged as potential custodians of the foreign labour domain
On 22 February, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said netizens should file official reports about labour rights violations before discussing them on social media.
Banning migrant workers from living in housing estates will create divisions in society and a sense of “us versus them”, according to a consumer advocate.
An activist has welcomed the suggestion for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the migrant workers management system and forced labour problem, saying it would “name and shame” those responsible for migrant worker abuses.
Beyond the headlines : Diving deep into immigration and recent crackdown on undocumented immigrants by authorities
Labour advocates have welcomed a proposal by Plantation and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani to impose a fine of RM20,000 to RM30,00 per worker on employers who bring in workers without jobs waiting for them.
The Malaysian Employers Federation and a migrant rights activist are against a suggestion to issue compound fines of RM30,000 to employers who bring in foreign workers but fail to give them jobs.
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers has called on the government to expedite the “anti-Ali Baba” law to deal with the issue of undocumented migrant workers in the country. We discuss whether this is, in fact, a way to resolve migrant labour issues in the country, and in a larger sense, what some of the main issues are with the current migrant labour recruitment system.
Year 2023
North-South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira said he welcomed reports that Putrajaya is considering an agreement with the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR over its role and responsibility.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should personally engage with victims of human trafficking and forced labour to address Malaysia’s Tier 3 ranking in the US State Department’s 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, a migrant rights activist said.
The Labour Law Reform Coalition says the MACC probe into the recruitment of foreign workers and links to the human resources ministry is alarming.
The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) has urged the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate corruption in the migrant worker management system.
Malaysia is always in the headlines for the wrong reasons over migrant worker issues from how they are recruited, to how we treat them to and the middlemen involved.
On the 10th of April, 226 workers from Bangladesh and Nepal were rescued from horrible living conditions at a transit home in Negeri Sembilan.
A Pakatan Harapan MP has urged the home ministry to take action against Rohingya traders operating stalls at the Pasar Besar Meru in Klang, a call which a migrant activist labelled “extremely racist and xenophobic”.
A human rights activist has urged the government to immediately release the 1,179 children of undocumented migrants who are being held in immigration depots nationwide.
Giving employers a grace period of six months to comply with labour laws only after they have brought in migrant workers will open up risks of exploitation, said a migrant rights activist.
Activists for migrant rights have expressed shock over the deportation of Pakistani journalist Syed Fawad Ali Shah to his home country.
There has been public outcry over the decision by the Petaling Jaya City Council to introduce a 90 sen charge for non-Malaysians who use the PJ City Bus service
STRENGTHENING THE MIGRANT VOICE
Championing Labour Rights for All
Stay informed with the latest articles and hot topics on refugees and migration in Malaysia and the ASEAN region. These articles cover refugee rights, migrant worker issues, human trafficking, asylum policies, and regional migration trends. We provide insights into legal frameworks, humanitarian efforts, and advocacy initiatives impacting migrant communities and displaced individuals. Whether you’re a policy maker, researcher, or activist, explore in-depth analyses, real-life stories, and expert perspectives to understand the challenges and opportunities within the migration landscape of Southeast Asia.
The Significance of Labour Rights
Labour rights are fundamental to ensuring dignity and justice for all workers, particularly for those who are most vulnerable. Migrant workers, refugees, and asylum seekers often face unique challenges in the workforce, including discrimination and exploitation.
Our organization is dedicated to advocating for these individuals, providing them with the resources and support they need to navigate the complexities of employment in a foreign land. By promoting awareness and understanding, we strive to create a more equitable and inclusive society.