Malaysia has been a member of the ILO since 1957. Currently, the country has ratified 14 Conventions including five of the ILO’s fundamental conventions (it ratified and subsequently denounced one of these core conventions, C105 on the Abolition of Forced Labour).
Malaysia has achieved a number of national developmental goals which coincidentally include essential elements of the Millennium Development Goals. The country’s development process has been shaped by the visions laid out the three key national policy frameworks; the New Economic Policy (1971-1990), the National Development Policy (1991-2000) and the National Vision Policy (2001-2010). In 1991 the country launched Vision 2020, which outlines Malaysia’s goal of achieving the status of a developed nation by 2020.
As Malaysia is a middle-income country the ILO’s assistance is largely in the form of technical advice, facilitating dialogue, and providing knowledge and tools based on its global experience. The technical assistance has covered a broad range of policy and strategic issues, including social security, occupational safety and health, gender equality in employment, and other aspects of labour standards. The ILO’s strategy also focuses on building up the capacity of the social partners (workers’ and employers’ organizations) so that they are aware of their rights and can more effectively advocate for them, as well as their understanding the implications and benefits of adopting additional international labour standards.
ILO work in Malaysia is supported through the ILO Subregional Office for East Asia, based in Bangkok, Thailand
Key documents
- Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010)
- Malaysia Labour Review (Vol.1, Number 1 - 2007) by Ministry of Human Resources