“Business case of better management of migrant workers in Malaysia”, 29 October 2014

The labour conditions of migrant workers in Malaysia have been under the international spotlight in recent months. First was a riot in an IT factory involving Nepalese workers. A month later, a report on the working conditions of labour in the electronics sector found conditions that were headlined “modern day slavery” in international press…The international brands that are the customers of Malaysian companies are increasingly committing themselves to universal principles and commitments on human rights and better working standards for workers, especially the most vulnerable. Addressing traceability further down their supply chain is not a passing trend, but is the way that companies will be doing business. For Malaysian companies to qualify to be a 2nd or 3rd tier supplier, decent working conditions, including for migrant workers will be a business requirement…Managing of foreign workers in their immediate operations and along their supply chain is a growing issue that Malaysian companies need to recognise…