, Thursday, 04 June 2026
GBI recently organised a practical workshop on forced labour and migrant workers in Malaysia, bringing together GBI members, external companies operating in Malaysia, civil society organisations - Our Journey and North-South Initiative, and international experts - The Remedy Project, IOM and IHRB. The workshop benefited from rich discussions that brought together diverse perspectives and practical experience. It generated valuable insights into how companies can strengthen due diligence, remediation, and building partnerships with civil society in practice to improve the situation of migrant workers and prevent forced labour.
Some key takeaways included:
- Collaboration between civil society and companies should be credible, sustained, effective, and useful to both parties and affected rightsholders in practice.
- Human rights risks can arise at every stage of the migrant worker journey, both within and beyond the workplace. Companies should adopt a holistic approach that extends beyond direct employees and recruitment processes, recognising the cumulative impact of experiences across the migrant worker journey.
- Effective remedy should be worker-centred, incorporate preventative measures to address root causes and prevent recurrence, extend beyond the repayment of fees, and involve meaningful engagement with affected rightsholders and their legitimate representatives.