Representatives of civil society organisations and trade unions gathered in Shah Alam, Selangor, on 13-14 August 2008, for a National Consultation on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers under the auspices of the Task Force on ASEAN Migrant Workers mechanism.

The group issued an 88-point national statement on migrant workers, as they recognised clearly that Malaysia must play a central role in the deliberations and determinations of the framework to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers in ASEAN because it is the destination country for the largest number of migrants in Asia.

The economy and society of the country is integrally connected with the fate of these migrant workers since as many as 1/3 of the workers in the country are migrants.

Yet for the major role that migration plays in the daily lives of Malaysians, it was acknowledged that the policies of the Government of Malaysia towards migrant workers and their families have often been detrimental towards the rights of these migrants.

Unfortunately, to date, the history of Malaysia's treatment of migrants can best be characterised by the continued existence of many laws regulating migrant workers which remain largely unimplemented.

The statement said that there are significant failures in good governance among civil servants at all levels when actions are taken to regulate migrant workers.

Read the 88-point national statement here.