GEORGE TOWN – The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has urged Asean member nations to introduce strong legislation and constant effective enforcement to deter the presence of job scam syndicates, which have been mushrooming across the region.
Steve Needham, senior communications officer at the ILO Regional Office for Asia Pacific in Bangkok, said this in advising workers from Malaysia not to leave their country for any employment without an employment contract that protects their rights.
This follows the recent spate of scams involving young Malaysians, including allegations that they have become forced labourers in neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The issue gained widespread attention when it was recently reported that 16 Malaysians had become victims of a job scam syndicate in Cambodia.
They claimed that they had been offered attractive jobs, but once in Cambodia, they were kept in prison-like conditions and forced to make telephone calls to con people of their money using techniques similar to those used in the Macau scam.
Needham told The Vibes that countries can enhance their complaints mechanisms on such matters with ILO support.
“ILO can advise the authorities, in this case in Cambodia, on the development of legislation with respect to international labour standards and protection of workers, labour inspection and protocols,” he said in an email correspondence.
“ILO also supports migrant worker resource centres (MRCs) in Malaysia that are run by MTUC (Malaysia Trades Union Congress).
“They can advise on employment contracts. Legal assistance and advice can also be provided by ILO supported MRCs in Cambodia and Malaysia in case of illegal recruitment and labour exploitation.”
Needham said that in view of the return of globalisation (following the easing of Covid-19 pandemic), governments in the region need to provide assistance to migrant workers.
“Fair recruitment policies and programmes in both countries of origin and destination need to be developed and implemented,” he said.
“There needs to be more awareness on recruitment issues with workers having access to legitimate sources of information about migration, jobs, and their rights.”
He stressed that legal assistance should also be provided to those who become victims of illegal recruitment.
More effective enforcement by national authorities is also needed, he added.
In Malaysia, anti-trafficking organisations such as the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Council play a key role in this, Needham said
He acknowledged that in recent times there has been a proliferation of online recruitment that is unregulated.
“If workers are promised a different job than what they actually get when they reach the country of destination, this constitutes deception, which is an indicator of forced labour.
“Deception can certainly happen during recruitment. The applicants are often in dire need of a livelihood and can easily be deceived if they do not understand how to spot false promises and verify recruiter information.”
To prevent this, ILO encourages Malaysia to ensure the effective implementation of its Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act and the National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons 2021-2025.
These instruments have provisions for preventing human trafficking, protecting victims, increasing prosecution, and strengthening partnerships.
To also protect Malaysians who intend to work abroad, cooperation with host countries must be strengthened. Potential migrants should be informed about their options and their rights and legal remedies.
At the same time, bilateral agreements could also incorporate measures to protect workers from becoming victims of human trafficking, he said – The Vibes, May 23, 2022
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