[STATEMENT] Protect Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia! Address labor trafficking and root causes of forced labor migration!

24 April 2024

The International Migrants Alliance expresses grave concern over the worsening conditions faced by Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia.

News reports have exposed that hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi migrant workers have been duped into paying large amounts of money to syndicated recruitment agencies in their home country only to arrive in Malaysia without a job. Many have said to be languishing for months or years in cramped accommodations, lacking or having no access to food, support or sometimes even a toilet.

While a few have found themselves a job, many remain unemployed and receive very little assistance either from the Malaysian or Bangladeshi government. Many of those with jobs also reportedly receive subhuman low wages, have their passports and important documents withheld by employers, and are exploited in the workplace. Such conditions push Bangladeshi migrant workers extremely vulnerable to becoming undocumented, subject to slave-like conditions, and abused. 

In some cases, Bangladeshi migrants would find themselves being persecuted by Malaysian authorities who, according to some human rights organisations and individuals, should be running after the erring recruitment agencies and employers. 

Since 2022, the number of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia has increased to 400,000. The enormity of their dire situation cannot be ignored or swept under the rug. And even just one case of exploitation is one too many. The dignity of Bangladeshi migrant workers needs to be restored and upheld.

The International Migrants Alliance joins the many human rights groups, civil society organisations and migrants rights advocates both in Malaysia and Bangladesh in calling on the Malaysian and Bangladeshi governments to address this severe migrants’ rights crisis. 

Bangladesh, as a champion country of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, needs to be at the forefront of resolving this crisis and striking agreements with the Malaysian government to uphold the rights, wellbeing and dignity of migrants at all times and regardless of their situation. 

Bangladeshi migrant workers deserve to be treated as people with human rights. Victims of labor trafficking need to be immediately protected and given assistance while so-called syndicated recruitment agencies in Bangladesh and Malaysia and abusive employers in Malaysia need to be persecuted and punished. Those who wish to be reunited with their families must be supported and repatriated without expense to the migrant workers or their families. 

As it continues to monitor this situation of the Bangladeshi migrant workers through its member organisations in both countries and amplify the ongoing calls for justice to the victims of trafficking and exploitation, the IMA continues to call on governments to acknowledge and resolve the root causes of forced labor migration.

No Bangladeshi father or mother, or anyone for that matter, deserves to be subjected to grave human rights violations and exploitation simply because they want to put food on the table for their families or give their children a bright future.

Provide support and protection to all Bangladeshi migrant workers who have fallen victim to trafficking!

Uphold and defend the rights of all Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia!

End forced labor migration!

Reference: Eni Lestari, IMA Chairperson