Introduction

The Ministry with Migrant Workers in brief

The ministry was setup in 2002 in response to the growing number
of migrant workers who faced difficulties in the northern states of Malaysia.
The ministry acts as the arm of the Catholic Church of the Penang Diocese
that reaches out to migrant workers in line with the church's social
teachings that calls it to respond to the pain and suffering of all men and
women regardless of age, creed, race or religion.

Malaysia is currently one of the biggest importers of migrant labour in Asia.
Its growing economy coupled with local labour shortage has rendered the
country dependent on migrant labour. Construction, plantation,
agriculture and manufacturing industries in the country have become
highly dependent on migrant labour. The dynamics behind this dependency
are complex. Nevertheless, the willingness of migrant workers to work
in low paying 3D jobs (dirty, dangerous & demanding) often shunned by
locals have contributed greatly to this tremendous influx of migrant labour
in Malaysia. Statistics reveal that currently migrant labour (documented
and undocumented) makes up almost 28% of the labour force in Malaysia.

While it is no doubt that Malaysia has become a country that offers
opportunities to migrant workers otherwise unavailable in their home
countries, it has become a destination where migrant workers are often
exploited and oppressed. This exploitations are numerous and range from
non payment of wages to unlawful termination, physical abuse to
arbitrary detention by authorities. 

While the law, specifically the Employment Act 1955, protects the
migrant worker, the other legislations like the Immigration Act 1959/63
often limit the full protection the migrant workers can receive from
the Employment Act 1955. Government services to migrant workers
who are in trouble are almost non-existent or half-heartened leaving
scores of migrant workers in precarious situations.

With this in mind, the Catholic Church of the Northern Diocese
recognised the need to offer much services to migrant workers who
have no where else to turn to. The Ministry with Migrant Workers
also plays an important role in helping the local church goers see
that she needs to embrace migrant workers who visit our churches
and make them an integral part of the parish.

The ministry is manned by two full-time staff and volunteers
who have dedicated themselves to the service of migrant workers.
The ministry is situated in two locations:

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