Dignity of Work: A Stakeholder Dialogue on Social and Legal Protection for Migrant Domestic Workers in Malaysia

On December 17, 2024, a one-day stakeholder dialogue was organised by Global Shepherds at the Swiss Garden Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, aimed at discussing key issues, sharing experiences, and developing strategies to improve legal and social protection for migrant domestic workers in Malaysia. With a focus on collaboration and advocacy, this dialogue provided a safe space for sharing and listening to experiences and ideas to forge a path toward equitable treatment for domestic workers in Malaysia through legal and social justice systems.

5 Key challenges highlighted by those who attended the Dialogues includes:

Unpaid salaries, restrictions on communication with family and support networks, which exacerbates feelings of isolation, physical, verbal, and even sexual abuse which often goes unaddressed due to fear of retaliation or lack of access to justice, confiscation of identity documents such as passports and other essential documents under the guise of "safekeeping," effectively limiting workers’ freedom and ability to seek help and restriction of workers' day off.

Organizations like Pertimig, AMMPO Tenaganita, and Migrant Care are at the forefront of advocating for domestic workers' rights, empowering them through leadership training, financial literacy workshops, and awareness campaigns. These efforts highlight the challenges faced by domestic workers and aim to educate the public while fostering empathy and support for policy reforms.

Public awareness campaigns leverage social media, documentaries, and community events to shed light on the harsh realities endured by domestic workers. These initiatives seek to shift public perception and push policymakers toward decisive action to address systemic issues.

Policy reform remains a cornerstone of these efforts. Advocates are pressing for domestic workers' inclusion under the Employment Act, ensuring protections such as regulated working hours and mandatory rest days. Additional measures focus on ethical recruitment practices and integrating domestic workers into social security schemes, striving for a fairer and more dignified work.

Moving forward, the following 4 main recommendations were proposed as pathway to ensure legal and social protection for domestic workers in Malaysia. 

As follow-up meeting will be organised in February 2025 to engage stakeholders in developing concrete action plans and strategies.