GOVT MAY AMEND ANTI-TRAFFICKING ACT
This is to boost protection of human trafficking victims, says Muhyiddin
THE government is considering a proposal to amend the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
This was to ensure that more focus would be given to the protection of human trafficking victims and that heavier punishment would be imposed on offenders as a form of prevention, said Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said the implementation of regulations to allow free movement and employment for human trafficking victims would be improved, apart from having a thorough management of foreign workers to ensure their welfare and rights could be protected.
Muhyiddin said this in response to the recently released United States Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2018 issued by the US State Department, which placed Malaysia in “Tier 2 watch list”.
The evaluation was conducted on 187 countries, and comprised the aspects of prevention, prosecution and protection.
“Malaysia has been on Tier 2 (watch list) nine times between 2006 and last year.
“The report stated that the country did not meet the minimum standard in the eradication human trafficking,” he said yesterday.
In this regard, Muhyiddin said, the government would boost efforts to eliminate the crime by taking preventive measures through closer cooperation with non-governmental organisations and industries, as well as increasing integrated actions with agencies.
He said the ministry would continue to make improvements in two aspects involving labour laws, namely the implementation of levies on foreign labour by employers, which became effective on Jan 1.
He said the Private Employment Agencies Act would be amended to provide increased penalties to those who failed to comply with labour laws.
Muhyiddin said the Council for AntiTrafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants, which was led by his ministry, had implemented continuous improvements to eradicate human trafficking as proposed by the US State department in its previous year’s evaluation.
He said the evaluation could be used as a guide in eradicating the problem in the country.