In conjunction with International Migrants Day, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) urges the government to implement the policies contained in its national economic development plan, the 11th Malaysia Plan, and not allow itself to be overruled by corporate interests. The government has drawn up a policy that if implemented will bring about a huge improvement in the current situation of migrant labour, and generally labour as a whole in the country.

The government strategy as reflected in the 11th Malaysia Plan is to improve the management of migrant workers in the country by reducing the dependence on low-skilled migrant workers, and by streamlining the recruitment process for migrant workers.

As part of this strategy, the government plans to formulate “a comprehensive immigration and employment policy for foreign workers... taking into account the requirements of industry and the welfare of foreign workers”. A comprehensive policy to guide all important decisions is long overdue and the lack of one is the reason behind frequent policy reversals and decisions that are not in the best interests of the country and people.

The government also plans to cap the proportion of migrant workers in the workforce at 15 percent by 2020.

The 11th Malaysia Plan also names the Human Resources Ministry as the sole ministry entrusted with migrant worker management. This will enable policies and decisions that treat migrant workers as workers and human beings with rights and not as a potential security threat.

The government is also committed to “eliminating the role of outsourcing companies and intermediaries”. In place of private agencies, the government has undertaken to establish a One Stop Centre under the ministry that will determine the requirement of migrant workers by sector, verify and approve applications for migrant worker, and monitor and respond to all matters related to the welfare of migrant workers.

This policy is highly significant as it has the potential to cut corruption by viewing recruitment and management of migrant labour as a service and not a business opportunity.

The migrant labour situation in the country is in a far from desirable state. If the government walks the talk of its 11th Malaysia Plan - by basing migrant worker recruitment on actual manpower needs and not to depress the bargaining power of workers, by removing the profit motive in migrant worker recruitment and management, and by taking into account the welfare of migrant workers in crafting a comprehensive policy - this situation is bound to improve.

PSM asks the government to implement its progressive policies, and not just allow them to remain lofty ideals by letting them be thwarted by corporate interests.

RANI RASIAH is a member of Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) central committee and the coordinator of its migrant workers desk.