Malaysia, through the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) and the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM), hosted the 14th ASEAN Labour Inspection Conference (ALIC) focusing on “The Sustainability of Employees’ Accommodation and Amenities Is A Tribute To Human Dignity And Equality.” The conference was officiated by Zairil Khir Johari, EXCO for Infrastructure, Transport and Digital of Penang, representing the Minister of Human Resources.
The event brought together senior officials and representatives from ASEAN member states, the International Labour Organization (ILO), ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Confederation of Employers, ASEAN Trade Union Council, International Association of Labour Inspectors, International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UN Women.
The conference aimed to detail policies, standards and implementation practices for worker accommodation inspections to safeguard employees’ rights across ASEAN. It provided a platform to discuss challenges, share best practices and enhance regional collaboration to ensure worker welfare is protected.
Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to providing accommodation for workers that meets international standards. The government’s enforcement of the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation and Amenities for Employees Act 1990 [Act 446], including amendments in 2020 expanding its coverage to all sectors providing worker accommodation, reflects this stance.
The conference underlined ASEAN’s collective effort to enhance social justice for workers and highlighted ALIC as a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices among member states, strengthening the role of labour inspectors regionally.
