Group to moot amendments to laws to better protect victims of modern slavery
The federal government should reform laws that concern human trafficking and labour activities to accommodate modern forms of slavery and exploitation, a multi-party consultation meeting has recommended.
According to its main organiser, the Centre for Human Rights and Constitutionalism (MCCHR), the 30 experts involved had also agreed to propose that Putrajaya reduces asymmetry of power between employers and employees through amendments to the laws.
MCCHR chief human rights strategist Firdaus Husni said a reduction of the gap between the power held by employers and their workers can minimise the risks of exploitation against the workers.
These include addressing problems of employers withholding their employees' passports and the prevention of debt bondage on the workers, among others...
The federal government should reform laws that concern human trafficking and labour activities to accommodate modern forms of slavery and exploitation, a multi-party consultation meeting has recommended.
According to its main organiser, the Centre for Human Rights and Constitutionalism (MCCHR), the 30 experts involved had also agreed to propose that Putrajaya reduces asymmetry of power between employers and employees through amendments to the laws.
MCCHR chief human rights strategist Firdaus Husni said a reduction of the gap between the power held by employers and their workers can minimise the risks of exploitation against the workers.
These include addressing problems of employers withholding their employees' passports and the prevention of debt bondage on the workers, among others.
"At the consultation session, the experts discussed and agreed to propose to the government amendments that should be done on our existing laws, so that we can better protect workers from forms of forced labour, including modern slavery.
"One of the things agreed was on the criminalisation of forced labour and modern slavery in our laws, which should be independent of anti-trafficking offences.
"It is also proposed that the government ensures that the laws would accommodate modern forms of exploitation, including elements such as psychological coercion, deception, fraud and abuse of vulnerabilities," Firdaus told Malaysiakini.
She said they are also proposing for the enactment of laws that would hold corporations and supply chains accountable.
This, according to her, should be done by compelling these companies to file statements and conduct due diligence to prevent elements of modern slavery, trafficking and smuggling of migrants in their operations.
Firdaus added that another matter that the experts are proposing was related to better access for victims to legal protection and the reporting system.
The session held yesterday (Wednesday) in Kuala Lumpur was a part of MCCHR's National Experts Consultation programme under its 'Project Law Strike' programme, where experts, academicians and civil society representatives from around the region were brought together to discuss a series of issues concerning law reforms for Malaysia.
According to Firdaus, yesterday's session involved a total of 30 experts that included lawyers and representatives from the government's Anti-Human Trafficking Council, who came to share their views on reforms that could be done for the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, the Penal Code and other related laws that address modern slavery issues.
She said MCCHR had engaged lawyers to draft the proposed law amendments, which they would submit to the government.
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