Compelled Labour Affecting Migrant Maids in Malaysia: The Domestic Worker Recruitment Connection

How Maid Agencies Fuel Forced Labour:

29% of Migrant Domestic Workers in Malaysia Face Forced Labour

A recent study from labour rights groups reveals that nearly 29% of migrant domestic workers in Malaysia are subject to exploitation, with recruitment firms at the center of it.

Many Maid Malaysia recruitment companies charge sky-high fees, trapping workers in financial bondage, often from their home countries.

Typical abuse include:

- Switching contracts on arrival

- Restricting freedom through document seizure

- Wage withholding

- No guaranteed leave

Because laws remain outdated, these maid agencies continue to operate freely.

== Solutions ==

- Ban agency-imposed loans

- Tighten licensing standards

- Fair employment terms

- Accessible complaint channels

Reforming the maid agency system is key to protecting vulnerable maids in Malaysia.