Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No. 19) - Malaysia - Sarawak (Ratification: 1964)

Article 1(1) of the Convention. Equal treatment of foreign workers. Since 1996 the Committee has been requesting that foreign workers be transferred back to the social security scheme of nationals, as the workers’ compensation scheme, which is now applicable to them, provides for significantly lower compensation payments in the form of lump sums and not of a periodical payment as guaranteed by the social security system. The Government stated in its last report its willingness to extend the social security scheme for national workers to foreigners and informed in its 2016 report that it recently held a technical consultation with the ILO on these issues with a view to initiating internal discussions on the way forward. The Committee recalls that the current situation, whereby foreign employees are not entitled to equal treatment with national workers in respect of employment injury compensation persist since 1993. The ILC Committee on the Application of Standards has at several occasions also asked the Government to comply with the obligations assumed under the Convention and put an end to the discriminatory treatment of foreign workers as regards employment injury compensation. The Committee strongly hopes that, with the technical cooperation of the ILO, the Government will be able to report progress on the measures taken in this respect.

[The Government is asked to supply full particulars to the Conference at its 106th Session and to send a detailed report in 2017.]