In Malaysia, business and human rights must go hand in hand, UN rights chief says

Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, discussed migrant issues with PM Anwar Ibrahim on Turk’s first trip to Southeast Asia in the role

Malaysia has been in the spotlight for months over allegations that forced labour, debt bondage and scam jobs have riddled its recruitment market for foreign labour

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Construction workers paint a building in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has been in the spotlight for months over allegations that forced labour, debt bondage and scam jobs have riddled its recruitment market for foreign labour. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 8:47pm, 4 Jun 2024

Malaysia’s human rights obligations must align how its companies do business, the UN rights chief said on Tuesday, just days after the country slammed the door on overseas workers and left thousands in Bangladesh stranded and out of pocket.

Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said he discussed migrant issues with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a meeting on Tuesday on Turk’s first trip to Southeast Asia in the role.

“If business practices are not human rights oriented, it will happen in the future, so the need of business and human rights comes together,” he told reporters.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk was UNHCR’s representative in Malaysia from 2004 to 2008. Photo: AFP

Malaysia has been in the spotlight for months over allegations that forced labour, debt bondage and scam jobs – in particular targeting Bangladeshi migrants – have riddled its recruitment market for foreign labour.

Anwar’s government has been working hard to attract foreign investment into the country to boost Malaysia’s sluggish economy.

There is a need to establish a human rights-based migration plan to tackle exploitation, extortion and ill-treatment of low-wage migrant workers, including foreign domestic employees, Turk said, saying Malaysia is not alone when it comes to these issues.

A panel of UN labour analysts in April said large amounts of money were being made in a labour racket run by “criminal networks” between Malaysia and Bangladesh.

“We received reports that certain high-level officials in both governments are involved in this business or condoning it,” the analysts, including agency officials on anti-trafficking and modern day slavery – said in a statement. “This is unacceptable and needs to end.”