Malasia - Prohibition on migrant workers’ organising (2010)

Approximately 2.6 million migrant workers in Malaysia (25% of total workforce) are prevented by law from organising. The Malaysian Trades Union Congress claims that companies intimidate migrant workers to prevent them from joining the union and then use the fact that they are not members to deny recognition to unions by claiming they have the support of less than 50% of the workforce. Notices placed on migrant work permits state that these workers are prohibited to join unions. The system for registering migrant workers discourages workers from asserting their rights because it grants total discretion to employers to terminate workers for virtually any reason.