Economic Marginalization and Human Rights Dilemmas: Migrant in Malaysia Under the Ban of Foreign Labor Recruitment

Abstract

This study examines the socio-economic and human rights implications of Malaysia’s recent foreign labor recruitment freeze, with a particular emphasis on its impact on migrant workers. Drawing on case studies, analysis of policy documents, and secondary reports from NGOs and international agencies, the study reveals that the abrupt suspension has exacerbated economic marginalization among migrant communities. Affected workers, many of whom carry large recruitment debts, now face unemployment, legal insecurity, and higher risks of exploitation. At the same time, critical sectors such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing are reporting severe labor shortages, threatening national productivity and economic recovery. The findings highlight significant policy gaps between labor governance and human rights protection, exposing structural vulnerabilities in Malaysia’s labor migration system. The paper advocates for a recalibration of labor policies that centered on worker protection, enhancing regulatory transparency, and ensuring ethical recruitment mechanisms. The study contributes to broader debates on migration governance, state responsibility, and the political economy of labor in Southeast Asia.