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Nearly a third of domestic workers in Malaysia in forced labour conditions: ILO
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) identified conditions such as excessive working hours, unpaid overtime, low wages, restricted movement, and being unable to quit among its indicators of forced labour.
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Struggle for life: Indonesian migrant workers deported from Malaysia with their babies and children enter the Indonesian Migrant Workers Placement and Protection post at Pelindo I Dumai Port in Dumai, Riau, on March 8. (Antara/Aswaddy Hamid)
N
early a third of migrant workers employed in domestic households in Malaysia are working under forced labour conditions, according to a survey released by the United Nations' labour agency on Thursday.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) identified conditions such as excessive working hours, unpaid overtime, low wages, restricted movement, and being unable to quit among its indicators of forced labour.
The survey, based on interviews with 1,201 domestic workers in Southeast Asia, found 29 percent of those in Malaysia faced such conditions, compared to 7 percent and 4 percent in its neighbours Singapore and Thailand, respectively.
Malaysia did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the survey findings.
Wannarat Srisuksai, a spokesperson for Thailand's labour ministry, said the treatment of domestic workers in the country has improved following laws introduced in 2012 to protect the group.
Singapore's Ministry of Manpower said the vast majority of migrant domestic workers were satisfied with working and living in Singapore, with protections including timely salary payment, adequate daily rest, proper food and accommodation, and regular medical check-ups.
In all three countries, however, 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.
