Counter-trafficking efforts in South East Asia centre on raising awareness, protecting human dignity

KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA—In a press conference held with members of the Malaysian media, ICMC and Archdiocesan Human Development Committee (AHDC) representatives shared how they will be intensifying efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking, and strengthen the capacity of local organizations involved in counter-trafficking work.Read more<

End Wage Exploitation of Domestic Workers, Ensure Minimum Pay in Labor Pact, Monitor Recruitment Fees

NEW YORK,11 May 2010 (HRW<)—Indonesian and Malaysian ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur today should ensure that pending revisions to a labor pact include a minimum wage and stronger oversight of recruitment fees, Human Rights Watch said. The two governments have indicated their agreement to revise a 2006 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to allow domestic workers to keep their passports and have a weekly day of rest, but negotiations have stalled on a minimum wage.

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Asian NGOs and labour organisations present joint declaration on rights of domestic workers

1 May 2010—On May Day 2010, domestic workers' groups, trade union, migrant organisations, women's groups, civil society and advocates in Asia and globally demand the recognition of rights, value, contribution and status of domestic workers as workers and equal members of society.Read more<

Catholic group helps workers fight for their rights

DHAKA, 4 May 2010 (UCAN<)—Catholic workers say they are grateful to a Church-run organization for giving them a voice, livelihoods and safeguarding their rights.Read more<

Partial reforms fail migrant domestic workers

NEW YORK, 28 April 2010 (HRW<)—The reforms undertaken by Middle Eastern and Asian governments fall far short of the minimum protections needed to tackle abuses against migrant domestic workers, Human Rights Watch said today in a report released in advance of May 1, International Labor Day. Despite recent improvements, millions of Asian and African women workers remain at high risk of exploitation and violence, with little hope of redress, Human Rights Watch said.Read more<

Crisis far from over: Lack of funding threatens life-saving aid to 1.3m people

Nearly a year since more than three million people were displaced by military operations in north-west Pakistan, the crisis is far from over. More than 1.3 million people are displaced, dependent on emergency relief to survive, yet funding for the emergency response is drying up.Read more<