KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been upgraded to Tier 2 in the latest Trafficking in Persons Report 2024 (TIP) issued by the US State Department.
Last year, Malaysia moved up from Tier 3 to the Tier 2 Watch List. Between 2018 and 2020, Malaysia was also on the Tier 2 Watch List.
The move from Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2 in the US State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report indicates that the government of Malaysia has made significant efforts to improve its response to human trafficking.
Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and Timor Leste were among the countries that were also categorised in Tier 2 alongside Malaysia in this year's report.
According to the newly-released report, Malaysia has achieved notable progress through increased trafficking investigations, more convictions resulting in significant sentences, enhanced public awareness campaigns about trafficking, and prosecution of officials involved in trafficking.
The report noted that while Malaysia does not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking, it is making significant efforts to do so.
"The government convicted significantly more labour traffickers than in the previous year. There has also been an increase in the number of trafficking-specialist prosecutors and funding for victim shelters and the anti-trafficking council.
"Malaysia also facilitated more freedom of movement passes for victims receiving services in government and non governmental organisation-run shelters," the report read.
However, the government fell short of meeting the minimum standards as Malaysia formally recognised fewer confirmed victims despite identifying more potential trafficking victims.
Moreover, victims were still required to provide statements and participate in investigations and criminal proceedings to be formally identified and receive protective orders and trafficking-specific services.
"Malaysia also prosecuted fewer traffickers and neglected labour traffickers in sectors such as oil palm and disposable glove manufacturing, despite persistent reports of trafficking in these industries," the report added.
It also highlighted official complicity and corruption undermining anti-trafficking efforts, allowing traffickers to operate with impunity and increasing the vulnerability of migrant workers to trafficking.
Delays in prosecution, insufficient interagency coordination, and inadequate victim services further contributed to Malaysia's failure to achieve Tier 1 status.
"These factors discouraged foreign victims from staying in Malaysia to participate in criminal proceedings and continued to impede effective anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts."
Last year, Malaysia was upgraded to the Tier 2 Watchlist of the US TIP report for 2023, with US authorities saying Malaysia has not met the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking but is making significant efforts.
Malaysia falls among Southeast Asian countries such as Brunei, Vietnam, and many other African countries in the Tier 2 watchlist.
In 2022 and 2021, Malaysia was on Tier 3, deemed as not making enough effort to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling crimes, with anti-trafficking investigations declining and fewer prosecutions of government officials allegedly involved in such crimes.
Malaysia was on the Tier 2 Watch List for the previous three years, from 2018 to 2020, although it was ranked Tier 2 in 2017.
Countries listed as Tier 3 may face aid restrictions and economic sanctions or not receive trade benefits from the US.