COMMENT | The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 24.9 million people around the world are victims of forced labour.

Many are forced to work to pay off the debts they incurred to get their jobs. Others face abuse but fear speaking out due to the threat of deportation; are coerced to work through intimidation; or have their salaries deducted for the smallest perceived infringement. The term modern slavery well describes how these people are exploited.

This is a global phenomenon. Criminal gangs, business owners, and recruitment agents exploit people’s desire for a better life. Buyers seeking low prices from suppliers ignore how products were made, while consumers lack access to transparent information about the goods they buy. Governments are often unwilling or too under-resourced to take meaningful action, if at all. And as a result, millions suffer systemic abuse.

Over the last 10 years, many countries, companies, and consumers have realised the scale of the problem and are taking steps to address it. The UK passed its Modern Slavery Act in 2015, and the United States passed the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, to strengthen efforts to prohibit the importation of goods produced by forced labour.

Likewise, in November 2021, Malaysia’s Minister for Human Resources M Saravanan launched Malaysia’s National Action Plan on Forced Labour, demonstrating Malaysia’s recognition of the problem of modern slavery and the steps required to meet the goal of eliminating forced labour. This action plan, the product of cooperation between ministries, industry, and NGOs, supported by the ILO, is a welcome step in the fight against forced labour in Malaysia.

In many countries, including our own, consumers, buyers, and investors are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about global supply chains and demand fair treatment for workers. Addressing and preventing forced labour isn’t just a human rights issue, it’s an economic issue. Negative publicity damages companies’ and countries’ reputations with buyers, consumers, and investors. Increasingly, import restrictions will make it difficult to sell goods made with forced labour overseas. Ultimately, forced labour saves nothing; it only hurts companies’ bottom lines.

The costs to address forced labour once it is in the supply chain far outweigh the steps needed for prevention. Far better from the outset for recruitment of workers to be ethical, fully transparent and without cost to the workers. Far better for companies to provide fair and legal wages and proper work conditions. Far better to retain workers with good jobs, not through coercion. Far better to avoid reputational and financial damage and be confident in the workforce.

As attention to the issue continues to grow, international companies will seek business environments that leave limited room for modern slavery. In seriously addressing forced labour, Malaysia will present itself as an even more competitive option.

Rock bottom wages and poor treatment of migrant workers also hurts economic development and growth at the macro level. The problems that poor treatment of migrant workers creates for Malaysia’s image in the global economy makes moving manufacturing up the value chain and creating skilled, well-paying jobs for Malaysians more difficult, hampering the country’s broader growth and development aspirations.

Plans must turn into action

But this story doesn’t have to end here. The National Action Plan is an excellent step to spur Malaysia to address forced labour. But plans must turn into action, including by holding perpetrators criminally accountable.

In addition, the whole of society – as well as those who count themselves Malaysia’s friends – can play a role. Police and labour inspectors can identify those who exploit victims for forced labour, and root out any attendant corruption – without prejudice – to prosecute perpetrators and protect victims.

Government and parliament can provide the regulatory framework to ensure a rigorous regime of standards. Businesses can be proactive in using quality, no-notice audit processes to get rid of forced labour in their supply chains and recruit ethically. Buyers and consumers can continue to demand ethical standards for their products. Activists can continue to troubleshoot, whistle-blow and push the pace of change.

While the Malaysian government must take proactive and sustainable action to prosecute traffickers and protect victims, Malaysian companies also have a role to play. Indicators of forced labour are well-known, and these practices violate Malaysian law.

Companies need to commit to preventing and addressing forced labour and proactively root out these practices at every level in order to stave off more trade actions – and do their part to enhance, rather than diminish, Malaysia’s international reputation.

Malaysian companies are justifiably proud of the quality of their products. What if they could be equally proud of how they treat workers? That would require large, medium and small business owners and executives to make such a determination and take action to treat workers well.

The United Kingdom and the United States are ready to work together with Malaysia. Our countries face similar challenges at home. We have more to do, but we’ve also learned important lessons along the way. We are ready to share, support, and build Malaysia’s capacity, to turn the country into a global leader in the fight against forced labour.

CHARLES HAY is British high commissioner and BRIAN MCFEETERS is US ambassador.