Migrant women workers in Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia War on Want is a movement of people committed to global justice. Our vision is a world free from poverty and oppression, based on social justice, equality and human rights for all. Our mission is to fight against the root causes of poverty and human rights violation, as part of the worldwide movement for global justice. We do this by: • working in partnership with grassroots social movements, trade unions and workers’ organisations to empower people to fight for their rights • running hard-hitting popular campaigns against the root causes of poverty and human rights violation • mobilising support and building alliances for political action in support of human rights, especially workers’ rights • raising public awareness of the root causes of poverty, inequality and injustice and empowering people to take action for change Join us! The success of our work relies on inspiring people to join the fight against poverty and human rights abuse. There are three easy ways for you to donate and join the movement: Call 020 7324 5040 Visit www.waronwant.org/support-us Post tear off the membership form at the back of this report, and send to: War on Want 44-48 Shepherdess Walk London N1 7JP Preface 01 Migrant workers have played a central part Many Western companies are also profiting in the economic success story of many from the abuse of migrant women workers South-East Asian countries in recent years. As detailed in this report. High street brands these countries have embraced the ‘outwards such as Adidas, Nike, Reebok and Levi-Strauss turn’ of export orientation, migrant workers sell goods produced in all three countries, have provided a regular source of cheap while low labour costs have made Cambodia labour that has allowed their manufacturing a key source of cheap clothing for stores such industries to compete successfully on world as Gap, Zara, Marks & Spencer and H&M. markets. Women migrants, in particular, have Workers in Malaysia’s booming electronics taken on jobs considered too arduous or industry supply market leaders all over unpleasant by local workers. the world. Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia have War on Want believes that women migrant reaped huge economic benefits from the workers in South-East Asia, like all workers, contribution made by migrant workers. have the right to a living wage and decent In Cambodia, almost 90% of garment working conditions. It is wrong for countries factory workers are young women who such as Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia to have migrated from rural areas of the country. rely on the labour of such workers for their Migration from neighbouring countries has economic success and yet refuse to grant provided an essential source of cheap labour them even the most basic security in their to the thriving export industries of Thailand lives. It is equally unacceptable for Western and Malaysia. Despite their contribution, companies to profit from the violation these same countries have refused to grant of migrant workers’ rights in their supply migrant workers the rights and security that chains. All readers are encouraged to take are their due. the actions listed at the end of this report in order to secure justice for women migrant This report presents the results of new workers in South-East Asia, and around research into the lives and conditions the world. facing migrant women workers in Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. In particular, it presents the findings of a series of in-depth interviews with migrant women workers – many of them still teenagers – conducted in each country. The interviews reveal a common tale of precarious lives in the John Hilary face of state oppression and exploitation Executive Director at the hands of unscrupulous employers. War on Want Executive summary 02 In an effort to become globally competitive, economic survival strategy, but within the Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia have Burmese migrant population there are also focused on developing export-oriented refugees who have fled political oppression manufacturing industries that rely heavily and persecution in Burma. on cheap, often migrant labour. Governments in each country have created policies that All workers have invested a great deal favour these industries and have concentrated to migrate to the factories. Leaving their the industries in areas set apart from families and friends, often borrowing money mainstream society, thus making it difficult or selling some of their possessions to make for workers to get protection or support the journey and find work, being sent off with when they try to exercise their rights great expectations of the village, they cannot against exploitation. return home empty handed. Fighting for their rights is thus a huge challenge, risking In Cambodia, young rural women have loss of job, livelihood and reputation, and migrated to work in these areas, while in possible danger or legal retribution for Malaysia and Thailand it is migrants from inability to pay back debts. nearby countries who have travelled to work Migrant women workers in Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia there. Although such migration is imperative Employers and businesses know this, to sustain the economic development of the and exploit the fragility of the workers’ countries, this mobility is not encouraged or lives without fear of legal consequence. facilitated. In the case of Thailand and Governments are also aware of the workers’ Malaysia, existing migration policies are vulnerabilities, but have failed to provide any enacted to limit the number of people extra protection. Indeed, in most cases it Restricted Rights entering the country and keep the status appears that they have failed to ensure of migrants temporary. even the normal scope of protection and enforcement of labour laws. The workers Consequently an underground system face a plethora of restrictions which has developed to assist the workers, with constrain their ability to exercise their rights. brokers organising transport, finding jobs for Legal restrictions, as in Thailand, or social workers and organising systems for sending restrictions caused by the temporary and remittances home. While the system is mostly insecure nature of their contracts prevent efficient and businesslike, it does provide migrant workers from forming trade unions, opportunities for businesspeople to put thus denying them a crucial channel to fight workers in dangerous situations purely for for better conditions. Migrants are also their own profit. Once in the employment restricted in building a legal identity in their sector, workers are given little to no job destination location, including restrictions on security. Migrants live in a temporary and obtaining driving licences, moving around the precarious state – which is beneficial to the country, organising events or large gatherings employers, who can hire and fire according and opening bank accounts. to demand, but which is detrimental to a worker’s life, livelihood and future. War on Want’s research has found that the garment and textile industry in Cambodia, This report focuses on women who have Malaysia and Thailand and the electronics migrated to Thailand and Malaysia, and within industry in Malaysia are in many cases Cambodia, to find work in the garment and dangerously negligent about enforcing legal electronics manufacturing industries. The standards of wages and working conditions majority of women have migrated as an for migrant women workers. It found that 03 workers had no employment contracts or, expenditure on basics such as food. Yet these where they did, these were illegal contracts. remittances are barely sufficient to support Workers regularly worked 10-hour days their families’ basic needs, and the families’ without overtime pay; faced harassment, socioeconomic status remains unchanged. unsafe working and living conditions; and in return received wages far below Neoliberal economic policies coupled the minimum needed to survive. They with the lack of enforcement of labour were prevented from organising, taking laws hide the human and social cost for sick leave, going outside their factory millions of women who travel across grounds or becoming pregnant. They countries, borders and continents in search could be fined for taking a day off, arriving of decent work and secure livelihoods to late, going to the toilet or other minor support themselves and their families. War so-called transgressions. on Want believes that these women, like all workers, have the right to a living wage and Despite the extremely low wages, many decent working conditions. We urge all workers still aim to save money and send readers of this report to join us in the remittances home, often by minimising their fight to make these rights a reality. Photo: © Moritz Siebert Photo: Migration in South-East Asia 04 Migration is a major employment held some form of documentation. Around strategy in South-East Asia, whether it 50% of the migrants are women. In Thailand, be part of governments’ development women migrant workers are employed in and economic plans or the livelihood various sectors including agriculture, plans of individuals. The major source horticulture, sex work, manufacturing, countries include the Philippines, construction, seafood processing and Indonesia, Burma,1 Vietnam and domestic work. Cambodia. Migrants from these countries migrate to other countries In neighbouring Malaysia there are 1.8 in South-East Asia, in particular to million registered migrant workers, and Malaysia and Thailand, and to the anything between one million and 2.5 million Middle East, Europe and America. undocumented workers in addition to those registered. Documented and undocumented For the past three decades, people from migrants work in similar sectors, including Burma, Cambodia and Lao People’s manufacturing, construction, oil palm and Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) have rubber plantations, domestic work, services Migrant women workers in Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia decided to escape poverty and political and agriculture. Documented migrants conflict in their countries to cross the come mostly from Indonesia, Bangladesh, border into Thailand.