Women migrant workers in Malaysia’s electronics sector are gaining confidence, building networks, and improving their ability to advocate for their rights at work through the PROTECT project – Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers, implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with funding from the European Union (EU). Malaysia, a global hub for electronics manufacturing, relies heavily on migrant labour, particularly in semiconductor testing and packaging, where migrant workers, including many women, constitute a critical part of the workforce. Despite their contributions, these workers are largely underrepresented in workplace decision-making and have limited access to formal mechanisms for raising concerns.
To address this gap, the ILO partnered with the Electrical Industry Employees Union (EIEU) to promote worker voice and social dialogue in sectors with high concentrations of migrant workers. The initiative focuses on empowering women migrant workers by combining skills-building, awareness of labour rights, and opportunities for peer exchange and collective reflection. This approach helps participants link everyday workplace experiences to broader rights and representation issues, enabling them to articulate shared concerns more effectively.
In January 2026, women migrant workers from Indonesia, Viet Nam, Nepal, and Myanmar gathered in Penang for a training and outreach initiative led by the EIEU with PROTECT project support. The sessions introduced participants to the trade union movement while fostering spaces for honest discussion, peer support, and recognition within the industry. Leadership was explored in practical terms, emphasizing trust, communication, accountability to peers, and the value of collective voice rather than formal titles. Participants selected worker leaders based on qualities such as courage, integrity, and willingness to speak up for others.
The training strengthened collective confidence, workplace visibility, and connections to trade union support structures. By creating opportunities for women migrant workers to participate more actively in workplace processes, the initiative contributes to safer, fairer, and more inclusive work environments. These efforts also play a critical role in preventing labour exploitation by enhancing women workers’ agency, promoting representation, and reinforcing access to supportive workplace structures within Malaysia’s electronics sector.
