HR Ministry highlights reforms, benefits and protections for migrant workers

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry is refining reforms to address the root causes of mental health issues among migrant workers, particularly labour rights abuses and financial pressures.

The ministry said there is a direct link between mental health and labour exploitation, citing the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) recognition of the “abuse of vulnerability” as a key indicator of forced labour.

Acknowledging that mental health issues among migrant workers are severely underreported, it said figures recorded by the Occupational Safety and Health Department do not reflect reality.

“The low numbers are due to severe underreporting, lack of awareness strong cultural stigma surrounding mental health,” the ministry said, adding that language barriers and fear of deportation also contribute.

Human rights advocates have said underlying pressures, including poor working and living conditions such as long hours, recruitment debt, cramped housing, fear of termination, and limited grievance channels, continue to affect migrant workers.

The ministry said migrant workers are generally in good physical and mental condition upon arrival based on mandatory screenings, but acknowledged these assessments focus largely on physical health rather than psychosocial well-being. To address this gap, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is promoting Employee Assistance Programmes to enable early detection of mental health issues.

This is complemented by the extension of Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) benefits to foreign workers under the Employees’ Social Security Act.

Mental health conditions arising from workplace accidents, including post-traumatic stress disorder, are covered under Perkeso’s Employment Injury Scheme, while its Invalidity Scheme also includes conditions that render a worker unable to earn a living.

The ministry also highlighted amendments to the Employment Act in 2023, which reduced the maximum work week to 45 hours and strengthened rest day enforcement.

The Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act was expanded to all sectors in 2021 and extended to Sabah and Sarawak in May 2025, standardising housing rights nationwide.

Workers can also use the e-Aduan mobile application to lodge complaints on wage theft, abuse, or passport confiscation directly with the Labour Department.

The app supports several languages, including Bahasa Melayu, English, Nepali and Bengali.

The ministry added that migrant workers are now allowed to change employers across industries, a policy introduced in May last year to break the “single-employer visa trap” that prevents abused workers from leaving.

“In severe cases, workers whose complaints meet the threshold for forced labour or human trafficking are protected under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants framework.

“This grants them Interim Protection Orders, shelter, immigration immunity and the right to work legally while their cases are heard,” it said.

On international commitments, the ministry said Malaysia ratified the ILO Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention in 2022, binding the country to prevent forced labour and protect victims.

“In consultation with the ILO and civil society groups, we are drafting the National Action Plan on Forced Labour, focusing on stronger grievance mechanisms and zero-cost migration commitments.

“When a worker suffers from poor mental health, they are far less likely to report abuses, advocate for themselves, or leave an exploitative situation,” the ministry said.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times