Tuesday, 22 July 2025

US human trafficking report upgrades Malaysia to Tier 2

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Awang Raduan (seated centre) with agencies and participants of the programme.

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LAWAS: Malaysia has improved its standing in the United States Department of State (USDOS) 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, moving up to Tier 2 after being on the Tier 2 Watch List in 2023 and ranked Tier 3 in both 2021 and 2022.

The TIP Report, an annual assessment of global efforts to combat human trafficking, including forced labour and exploitation, ranked Malaysia as Tier 2, indicating notable progress toward meeting international standards although full compliance has not yet been achieved.

This positive development was highlighted during the closing ceremony of the ‘Labour Go Rural Area’ Programme 6.0 (L-GRAP 6.0), held today here, as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness and prevent labour exploitation.

Organised by the Sarawak Labour Department, the week-long programme focused on educating rural communities about employment rights and unethical practices such as human trafficking, child labour, and job scams.

“Let us all work together to completely eradicate forced labour in this country and help restore Malaysia’s image,” urged Sarawak Labour Director Awang Raduan Awang Omar during the programme.

He noted that the improved ranking reflects the government’s intensified enforcement actions and its commitment to protecting vulnerable groups through public outreach and education.

The programme also marked Malaysia’s ratification of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Protocol 29, reaffirming the country’s international commitment to eliminating forced labour.

“I believe today’s programme helped clarify the signs of forced labour and how communities can identify and report these crimes,” Awang Raduan added.

Supported by agencies such as PERKESO, DOSH, NIOSH and JPK, LGRAP 6.0 featured public talks, open interviews, and outreach activities to improve understanding of workers’ legal protections.

Participants were encouraged to share the knowledge they gained with their families and peers, helping to expand the reach of the programme and promote safer and more informed workplaces across rural Sarawak.

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