On December 18, 2024, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) at UNIMAS hosted an insightful talk titled “Human and Labour Rights: The What, Why, and How Do We Address Forced Labour.” Held in Multimedia Room 1, the event was organized by third-year students enrolled in the course SSA3224 Contemporary Issues in International Relations, under the guidance of Madam Noor’ain Aini. The session featured Miss Umavathni a/p Vathanaganthan, a representative from the Collective of Applied Law and Legal Realism (CALR) and Assistant to Malaysia’s Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), as the guest speaker.
Understanding Forced Labor
Miss Umavathni opened the session by defining forced labour and identifying its indicators. She elaborated on its prevalence in Malaysia, particularly in sectors such as plantations, manufacturing, and domestic work. The audience learned how factors such as excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, and poor living conditions create an environment where forced labour thrives.
Challenges and Structural Issues
The speaker highlighted the systemic challenges that perpetuate forced labour in Malaysia. Weak enforcement of labour laws, the exploitation of migrant workers, and a lack of awareness among both employers and employees were underscored as significant issues. She emphasized how these challenges are compounded by broader structural issues, including ineffective recruitment practices and inadequate worker protections.
Pathways to Change
Miss Umavathni’s presentation provided actionable recommendations for addressing forced labour. Strengthening Malaysia’s legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms emerged as critical first steps. She advocated for collaboration between governments, NGOs, and the private sector to foster meaningful change.
Other key measures discussed included promoting ethical recruitment practices, raising awareness of labour rights among workers and employers, and increasing advocacy efforts. The speaker called for collective action to ensure Malaysia’s compliance with global labour standards, emphasizing that upholding human dignity is a shared responsibility.
Call to Action
The talk concluded with a call for robust, multi-stakeholder efforts to combat forced labour and create a fairer, more equitable labour environment. The audience left with a deeper understanding of the issue and a renewed sense of urgency to support initiatives that safeguard human and labour rights.
This event served as an invaluable platform for education and dialogue, inspiring students to consider their roles in advocating for social justice and equitable labour practices in Malaysia and beyond.