•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Migrant workers are the most vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 outbreak. The study aims to discuss the current legal framework governing migrant workers in Malaysia during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The discussion covers the effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on migrant workers focusing on job termination and access to social security protection. It also makes recommendations on policy guidelines to ensure migrant worker’s safety against job termination and zero access to social security during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The study employed a doctrinal approach. It used primary and secondary data that included desktop research, with a particular emphasis on journals, documents, and official reports. Policymakers tended to neglect migrant workers during the pandemic because the migrant workers had less access to adequate security, particularly in terms of job termination and living conditions. The Covid-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order imposed in Malaysia have affected migrant workers in various ways. It puts workers who are unable to work and who want to work in vital services in jeopardy. In conclusion, a national approach policy is impractical for migrant workers because the workers are short of access to social security and urgent assistance.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22304/pjih.v9n3.a1

References

Books

Bayindir Goularas, Gökçe. International Migration in the Twenty-First Century: A General Overview in International Migration in the 21st Century: Problems and Solutions. United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018.

Echeverría, Gabriel. Towards a Systemic Theory of Irregular Migration Explaining Ecuadorian Irregular Migration in Amsterdam and Madrid. Switzerland: Springer Open, 2020.

Harkins, Benjamin. Review of Labour Migration Policy in Malaysia / Tripartite Action to Enhance the Contribution of Labour Migration to Growth and Development in ASEAN (TRIANGLE II Project). Bangkok: International Labour Organization, 2016.

International Labour Organization. Public Attitudes Towards Migrant Workers in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Switzerland: International Labour Organization, 2020.

ION Indonesia. COVID-19 and Labor Markets in Southeast Asia Impacts on Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Thailand, and Vietnam. Philipines: Asian Development Bank, 2021.

Katharine, Jones, Sanushka Mudaliar, and Nicola Piper. Locked Down and In Limbo: The Global Impact of COVID-19 on Migrant Worker Rights and Recruitment. Switzerland: International Labour Organization, 2021.

Mathi, Brema. A Spotlight on Migrant Workers in the Pandemic Crisis Assessment. Malaysia: Penang Institute, 2020.

Nadia Abd Aziz, Saidatul and Salawati Mat Basir. Labour Mobility in the ASEAN Community: Impact of Policies and Law on Foreign Workers in Malaysia, the ASEAN Community, Legal Issues. Bangi, Selangor: UKM Press, 2018.

_________________________________________. Protecting Migrant Worker During Covid-19 Pandemic: Lessons from Malaysia and Thailand, Small States, Strong Societies: Essays On Covid-19 Responses in Southeast Asia. Yogyakarta: ASC Monograph, 2020.

Theng Theng, Tan (et.al.). Covid-19: We Must Protect Foreign Workers. Kuala Lumpur: Khazanah Research Institute, 2020.

Vivienne, Chew, Phillips Melissa, and Yamada Park Min (eds). COVID-19 Impacts on Immigration Detention: Global Responses. Australia: International Detention Coalition and HADRI/Western Sydney University, 2020.

Yaqin, Anwarul. Legal Research and Writing Methods. India: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2007.

Other Documents

Alam, Shah. “Top Glove Commences Remediation Payment to Migrant Workers and Remains Committed to Continue Improving Worker Welfare.” Accessed August 10, 2020. https://www.topglove.com/single-press-release-en?id=96&title=top-glove-commences-remediation-payment-to-migrant-workers-and-remains-committed-to-continue-improving-worker-welfare.

Alhadjri. “MEF Insists Gov’t Must Bear Costs for Foreign Worker’s Covid-19 Tests.” Accessed May 5, 2020. https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/524157.

Ani Ahmad, Noor (et.al.). “First Local Transmission Cluster of COVID-19 in Malaysia: Public Health Response.” International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health 8, no. 3 (2020): 124-130. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.21.

Baruah, Nilim (et.al.). “Trends in Labor Migration in Asia.” In ADBI, OECD and ILO. Labor Migration in Asia: Impacts of the COVID-19 Crisis and the Post-pandemic Future (ILO Report February 6-7, 2020). https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/690751/adbi-book-labor-migration-asia-impacts-covid-19-crisis-post-pandemic-future.pdf.

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. “Human Rights Reports, Custom Report Excerpts.” Accessed September 10, 2022. https://www.state.gov/report/custom/3a03e83447/.

Chen, Grace. “JKM’s New Guidelines Allow NGOs to Distribute Food to Needy Folk.” Accessed April 2, 2020. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2020/04/02/jkms-new-guidelines-allow-ngos-to-distribute-food-to-needy-folk.

Daim, Nuradzimmah. “Health Ministry Working with UNHCR to Track Refugees Who Attended Tabligh Event.” Accessed March 21, 2020. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/576803/healthministryworkingunhcr-track-refugees-who-attended-tabligh-event.

Department of Statistic Malaysia. “Labour Force Survey Report, Malaysia, 2019.” Accessed September 27, 2022. https://dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=126&bul_id=TlVMbEtBVXBGTi80VjdqZ1JUdVRHdz09&menu_id=U3VPMldoYUxzVzFaYmNkWXZteGduZz09.

Douglas, Jeremy (et.al.). “End Stigma and Discrimination Against Migrant Workers and Their Children During COVID-19 Pandemic.” Accessed June 9, 2020. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/end-stigma-and-discrimination-against-migrant-workers-and-their-children-during-covid.

Dzulkifly, Danial. “Women, Children Among Those Carted Off in Lorries as Immigration Dept Raids Migrants in Selayang Baru.” Accessed May 14, 2020. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/14/women-children-amongthose-carted-off-in-lorries-as-immigration-dept-raids/1866148.

E. Hutchinson, Francis and Pritish Bhattacharya. “Malaysia’s Rubber Glove Industry – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” ISEAS. Accessed September 10, 2022. https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2021-35-malaysias-rubber-glove-industry-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-by-francis-e-hutchinson-and-pritish-bhattacharya/.

Faraday, Fay. “The Empowerment of Migrant Workers in a Precarious Situation: An Overview.” (Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD) Paper 39, 2021). https://blogs.worldbank.org/peoplemove/empowerment-migrant-workers-precarious-situation-overview.

Free Malaysia Today. “Court of Appeal Affirms Undocumented Can Seek Redress from Labour Court.” Accessed May 13, 2022. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/05/13/court-of-appeal-affirms-undocumented-can-seek-redress-from-labour-court/.

González Morales, Felipe. “Malaysia / COVID-19: ‘Stop Crackdown on Migrants, Journalists and Civil Society’ – UN Rights Experts.” Accessed May 21, 2020. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/05/malaysia-covid-19-stop-crackdown-migrants-journalists-and-civil-society-un.

Human Rights Commission of Malaysia. “Dialogue With Vulnerable Communities: An Assessment of Needs and Next Steps Amid COVID-19 Pandemic.” Accessed September 10, 2022. https://www.suhakam.org.my/dialogue-with-vulnerable-communities-an-assessment-of-needs-and-next-steps-amid-COVID-19-pandemic/.

Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics. “Job Security of Migrant Workers Should Not Depend on Employers.” Accessed May 29, 2020. https://www.home.org.sg/statements/2020/5/29/job-security-of-migrant-workers-should-not-depend-on-employers.

Hutchinson, Terry and Nigel Duncan. “Defining and Describing What We Do: Doctrinal Legal Research.” Deakin Law Review 17, no. 1 (2012): 83-119. https://doi.10.21153/dlr2012vol17no1art70.

International Labour Organization and United Nations (UN) Women. “COVID-19 and Women Migrant Workers in ASEAN.” Accessed June 4, 2020. https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/issue-briefs/WCMS_746979/lang--en/index.html.

____________________________. “Experiences of ASEAN Migrant Workers During COVID-19: Rights at Work, Migration and Quarantine During the Pandemic, and Re-migration Plans.” (ILO Paper Brief-Bangkok, 2020): 1-21. https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/issue-briefs/WCMS_746881/lang--en/index.htm.

____________________________. “ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the World of Work.” (ILO Briefing Note, January 25, 2021): 1-32. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/- --dgreports/---dcomm/documents/briefingnote/ wcms_740877.pdf.

____________________________. “ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the World of Work. Second Edition Updated Estimates and Analysis.” (ILO Briefing Note, April 7, 2020): 1-11. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@dcomm/documents/briefingnote/wcms_740877.pdf.

____________________________. “Public Attitudes Towards Migrant Workers: A Four Country Study.” Accessed September 10, 2022. http://www.ilo.org/asia/info/WCMS_159851/lang-- en/index.html.

____________________________. “Protecting Migrant Workers During The COVID-19 Pandemic Recommendations for Policy Makers and Constituents.” (ILO Policy Brief, April 30, 2020): 1-8. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/labour-migration/publications/WCMS_743268/lang--en/index.html.

____________________________. “Public Attitudes Towards Migrant Workers in Malaysia.” (ILO Research Brief, December 15, 2020): 1-11. https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/issue-briefs/WCMS_766632/lang--en/index.html.

____________________________. “Migrant Worker Rights and Recruitment COVID-19 has Made Life Even More Precarious for Migrant Workers.” International Labour Organization, November 22, 2021. https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_829452/lang--tr/index.htm.

____________________________. “Recommendations for Garment Manufacturers on How to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic.” (ILO Briefing Paper, April 15, 2020): 1-14. https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/issue-briefs/WCMS_741642/lang--en/index.html.

____________________________. “Situation and Gap Analysis on Malaysian Legislation, Policies and Programmes, and the ILO Forced Labour Convention and Protocol.” (Bridge Project – MYS/16/50/USA, September 10, 2022): 1-62. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/genericdocument/wcms_650658.pdf.

____________________________. “Social Protection Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis Around the World.” Accessed June 16, 2020. https://socialprotection.org/discover/databases/social-protection-responses-covid-19-crisis-around-world.

____________________________. “Social Protection Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis: Country Responses in Asia and the Pacific.” (ILO Report, August 19, 2020): 1-21. https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/WCMS_753550/lang--en/index.html.

____________________________. “Supporting Migrant Workers During the Pandemic for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community.” (Draft Thematic Background Paper for the 13th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour- ILO Regional Office for Asia and Pacific, Bangkok): 1-51. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---sro-bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_816971.pdf.

____________________________. “TRIANGLE in ASEAN Quarterly Briefing Notes.” (Briefing Note, August 31, 2022). https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/WCMS_614378/lang--en/index.html.

__________________________. “The Supply Chain Ripple Effect: How COVID-19 is Affecting Garment Workers and Factories in Asia and the Pacific.” (ILO Research Brief – Swedia, October 2020): 1-23. https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/issue-briefs/WCMS_758626/lang--en/index.htm.

__________________________. “COVID-19: Impact on Migrant Workers and Country Response in Malaysia.” (ILO Report-May 8, 2020): 1-15. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/asia/robangkok/documents/briefiengnote/wcms_741512.pdf.

International Monetary Fund. “MALAYSIA STAFF Report For The 2021 Article IV Consultation.” Accessed March 17, 2021. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2021/03/17/Malaysia-2021-Article-IVConsultation-Press-Release-Staff-Report-and-Statement-by-the-50272.

Iruthayaraj D. Pappusamy, P. “Migrant Workers Contribution Towards the Malaysian Economic Transformation.” (Paper presented at the Asian Conference on Globalization and Labor Administration - Cross Border Labor Mobility, Social Security and Regional Integration- Philippines November 19-21, 2014). https://islssl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Pappusamy_2014_Asian_Conf.pdf.

Jacqueline Lo, Ying-Ru and Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa. “Workers Must be Protected With a Safe and Healthy Work Environment.” Accessed April 28, 2021. https://www.who.int/malaysia/news/commentaries/detail/workers-must-be-protected-with-a-safe-and-healthy-work-environment.

Kaur, Amarjit. “Managing Labour Migration in Malaysia: Guest Worker Programs and the Regularization of Irregular Labour Migrants as a Policy Instrument.” Asian Studies Review 38, no. 3 (2014): 345-366. https://doi.org/10.1080/10357823.2014.934659.

Khalidi, Jarud Romadan and Nazihah Muhamad Noor. “Covid-19 Control: Break Down Foreign Worker’s Barriers to Care.” Accessed 2020. http://krinstitute.org/assets/contentMS/img/template/editor/20200325_Articles_Covid_FW_v3.pdf.

Kikkawa, Aiko, James Villafuerte, Raymond Gaspar, and Badri Narayanan. “COVID-19 Impact on International Migration, Remittances, and Recipient Households in Developing Asia.” (Asian Development Bank’s Briefs Paper- Singapore ADB, 2020). https://dx.doi.org/10.22617/BRF200219-2.

Latiff, Rozanna and A. Ananthalakshmi. “Malaysia Detains Hundreds of Refugees and Migrants During Virus Lockdown: Rights Groups.” Accessed May 1, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-malaysia-migrants-idUSKBN22D5JU.

Lim, Lin Lean. “The Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 in Malaysia: Policy Review and Guidance for Protecting the Most Vulnerable and Supporting Enterprises.” (International Labour Organization Report, July 21, 2020): 1-80. https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/WCMS_751600/lang--en/index.htm.

Loganathan, Tharani (et.al.). “Breaking Down the Barriers: Understanding Migrant Worker’s Access to Healthcare in Malaysia.” PLoS ONE 14, no. 7 (2019): 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218669.

Mahmood, Bhutta (et.al.). “Forced Labour in the Malaysian Medical Gloves Supply Chain During The Covid-19 Pandemic.” (Research Summary - Modern Slavery & Human Rights Policy & Evidence Centre, July 2021): 1-10. http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/100130/1/Bhutta%20et%20al.2021.Research%20Summary%20Medical%20Gloves%20Project.%20MSPEC.pdf.

Malaymail. “Women, Children Among Those Carted Off in Lorries as Immigration Dept Raids Migrants in Selayang Baru.” Accessed May 14, 2020. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/14/women-children-among-those-carted-off-in-lorries-as-immigration-dept-raids/1866148.

Malaysian Bar. “Uphold Rights of Migrants Irrespective of Their Status.” Accessed December 18, 2020. https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/news/press-statements/press-statements/press-comment-uphold-rights-of-migrants-irrespective-of-their-status.

Merican Abdul Rahim Merican, Rooshida. “Employees Rights Under the Malaysian Social Security Organisation.” Journal of Politics and Law 3, no. 1 (2010): 24-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jpl.v3n1p24.

Mia, Md. Tuhin and Sharmin Jahan Putul. “Covid-19 in Malaysia: Protection of Migrant Workers in This Pandemic Situation.” Journal of Asian and African Social Science and Humanities 6, no. 3 (2020): 21-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.26505.36964.

M. Noor, Noraini and Muhamad Nabil Shaker. “Perceived Workplace Discrimination, Coping and Psychological Distress Among Unskilled Indonesian Migrant Workers in Malaysia.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations 57, 2017: 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2017.01.004.

Ministry of International Trade and Industry. “Safe@Work to Balance Safety and Lives of Workers with Economic Sustainability.” Accessed March 18, 2021. https://www.miti.gov.my/miti/resources/Media%20Release/MR__SAFE@WORK_-_18.3_.2021_.pdf.

Nadia Abdul Aziz, Saidatul and Salawati Mat Basir. “Protection of Migrant Workers under the ICMW: Incompatibility with Malaysian Laws and Position in ASEAN.” Hasanuddin Law Review 7, no. 3 (2021): 150-168. http://dx.doi.org/10.20956/halrev.v7i3.3066.

New Straits Times. “Use Alternatives To Detention in The Fight Against COVID-19.” Accessed May 2, 2020. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/05/589262/un-use-alternatives-detention-fight-against-covid-19.

PERKESO. “Employer’s Circular No. 3 Year 2018: Transfer of Foreign Worker’s Coverage From The Foreign Workers Compensation Scheme.” Accessed January 1, 2019. https://www.perkeso.gov.my/images/imej/pekerja_asing/Employers_Circular_No._3_Year_2018.pdf.

Shobana Ambrose, Natalie. “COVID-19 Reveals Cracks in Malaysia’s Access to Marginalised Communities.” Accessed May 6, 2020. https://devpolicy.org/covid-19-reveals-cracks-in-malaysias-access-to-marginalised-communities-20200506-2/?print=print.

S. Bedi, Rashvinjeet and Mazwin Nik Anis. “Covid-19 Screening: Socso Coverage For Foreign Workers Who Contribute to Organization.” Accessed May 5, 2020. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/05/05/covid-19-screening-socso-coverage-for-foreign-workers-who-contribute-to-organisation.

Suraya Abd Razak, Siti (et.al.). “Employment Rights During The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Legal Analysis.” Journal of Muwafaqat 4, no. 1 (2021): 29-40. http://muwafaqat.kuis.edu.my/index.php/journal/article/view/6.

Sukumaran, Tashny and Bhavan Jaipragas. “Coronavirus: Hundreds Arrested as Malaysia Cracks Down on Migrants in Covid-19 Red Zones.” Accessed May 1, 2020. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3082529/coronavirus-hundreds-arrested-malaysia-cracks-down-migrants.

Tan, Vincent. “Covid-19: Malaysian Government Opens Investigations Into Top Glove Over Workers’ Housing.” Accessed September 30, 2022. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/covid-19-malaysia-investigate-top-glove-workers-dormitories-446551.

The UN Migration Agency. “COVID-19 Global Mobility Restriction Overview.” Accessed March 28, 2020. https://migration.iom.int/system/tdf/reports/DTM-Covid19%20Global%20Overview%20Output%2018.05.2020%20Final%20_1.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=8672.

United Nations Sustainable Development Group. “COVID-19 and Human Rights: We Are All in This Together.” Accessed September 10, 2022. https://unsdg.un.org/resources/covid-19-and-human-rights-we-are-all-together.

Wahab, Andika. “The Outbreak of Covid-19 in Malaysia: Pushing Migrant Workers at The Margin.” Social Science and Humanity Open 2, no. 1 (2020): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100073.

______________ and Aizat Khairi. “Right to Justice and Legal Aid Barriers to the Vulnerable Non-Citizens in Malaysia.” GEOGRAFIA Malaysian Journal of Society and Space 16, no. 1 (2020): 13-23. https://doi.org/10.17576/geo-2020-1601-02.

Wahab, Farid. “NGOs Unhappy Over New Rules for Food Aid Distribution.” Accessed April 1, 2020. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2020/04/01/ngos-unhappy-over-new-rules-for-food-aid-distribution.

Wahyu Asmorojati, Anom (et.al.). “The Impact of COVID-19 on Challenges and Protection Practices of Migrant Worker’s Rights.” BESTUUR 9, no. 1 (2021): 43-56. https://dx.doi.org/10.20961/bestuur.v10i1.60179.

World Bank. “MALAYSIA: Estimating the Number of Foreign Workers.” (Document of The World Bank Report No: AUS0000681 - The World Bank Group, March 28, 2019). https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/953091562223517841/pdf/Malaysia-Estimating-the-Number-of-Foreign-Workers-A-Report-from-the-Labor-Market-Data-for-Monetary-Policy-Task.pdf.

World Health Organization. “Interim Guidance for Refugee and Migrant Health in Relation to COVID-19 in The WHO European Region.” (Research Report - World Health Organization, March 25, 2020. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/359103/WHO-EURO-2020-5587-45352-64901-eng.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y.

______________________. “Malaysia Strong Preparedness and Leadership for a Successful COVID-19 Response in Malaysia.” Accessed August 20, 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/strong-preparedness-and-leadership-for-a-successful-covid-19-response-in-malaysia.

Zainuddin, Zarina and Muhammad Sinatra. “Dealing with COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia: Lessons From Negeri Jiran.” Accessed June 17, 2020. https://www.isis.org.my/2020/06/17/dealing-with-covid-19-pandemic-in-malaysia-lessons-from-negeri-jiran-2/.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.22304/pjih.v9n3.a1

Download

Share

COinS