Malaysia has not moved from its Tier 2 Watch List status in the 2011 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report issued by the United States Department of State.

Immigration director-general Alias Ahmad said the report also highlighted several issues among which was the recruitment of excess foreign workers who were then often subjected to conditions of forced labour.

"Malaysia still needs between three to four million workers particularly in the plantation and construction sectors, as most locals refuse to take up these jobs," he said during an interview recently.

On employers confiscating workers' passports, Alias said it was no longer an issue as Immigration has forbidden it, unless it was willingly surrendered for safekeeping.

The People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) were also no longer allowed to conduct any raids related to human trafficking, he said.

On observations in the report that these cases were not effectively investigated or litigated, he said it was an issue because obtaining evidence was a challenge.

The report also included matters related to counselling for the victims and their right to be protected.

Alias said the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is directly involved with the protection of victims and has its own panel of counsellors at various shelters.

Malaysia was ranked Tier 3 in 2009 but moved to Tier 2 in 2010.

The TIP report ranks countries across the globe based on their compliance of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act 2000 (TVPA) and is evaluated annually by the US Department of State.

Tier 2 includes countries which do not fully comply with TVPA's minimum standards but are making significant efforts to eliminate trafficking in persons.

- Bernama