MIDEQ Impact and Engagement

The Challenge

Negative portrayals of migrant workers in Malaysian media since the 1980s have also added to public prejudice and discrimination. Many migrant workers are also unaware of their rights under Malaysian law, including protections provided by the Employment Act 1955, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Not just that, migration management in Malaysia is often complicated and inconsistent for a number of reasons, leaving gaps in the system where migrant workers can be exploited. Heavy workloads, unrealistic deadlines, and frequent conflicts in the workplace with no way to voice their concerns can lead to a negative impact on their safety, well-being, and mental health.

Migrant workers in Malaysia are often seen as transient in existence and in their contributions. They are also overwhelmingly invisible, disappearing from the public eye and mind. As such, the reality of their everyday and broader experiences is not talked about enough. The past four years of the Migration for Equality and Development (MIDEQ) Malaysia’s work has tried to close these immense gaps in understanding, while re-centring humanity in migrant journeys to, and in, Malaysia.