The ILO in Malaysia

Malaysia has been an ILO Member State since 1957 and has ratified 18 ILO Conventions, of which 14 are in force.

As Malaysia is a high middle-income country, the ILO’s technical engagement focuses on building the capacity of national workers’ and employers’ organizations and the Government, facilitating dialogue, providing technical advice as well as promoting the ratification and application of international labour standards.

ILO’s constituents in Malaysia are the Government of Malaysia, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) and the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).

Cooperation between the ILO and Malaysia takes place under the framework of the Malaysia Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2021-25 in line with the Twelfth Malaysian Plan (2021-25) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Presently, ILO development cooperation in Malaysia covers the following areas: labour law reform; labour law compliance; industrial relations and social dialogue; forced and child labour; supply chains; social protection; migrant workers; SME development and skills.

ILO is a non-resident agency without a country office in Malaysia but a joint project office is located in Kuala Lumpur. ILO’s work in Malaysia is supported through the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, based in Bangkok, Thailand.