DRL Strengthening the Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers in Malaysia

Background
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) is seeking proposals to strengthen the labor rights, protections, and conditions of decent work for migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Malaysia. According to a 2019 World Bank report, there are 200,000 to 300,000 MDWs in Malaysia, constituting about seven percent of the migrant workforce. Abuse of MDWs is an ongoing problem, with 29 percent experiencing conditions of forced labor.

The Malaysian government lacks policies that fully protect MDWs and inconsistently enforces existing policies. The Employment Act of 1955 includes MDWs but regulations related to compensation and standards remain on hold. MDWs face exclusion from the Minimum Wage Order and limited access to social security benefits.

Grant Details
DRL requests targeted proposals for an $800,000 project in Malaysia to achieve objectives such as ensuring MDWs experience dignified working conditions due to improved enforcement of existing policies, providing resources on safe migration and fair recruitment prior to departure to Malaysia, advocating for policy changes to promote protection of MDW rights, and supporting MDWs in recognizing and understanding their labor rights.

Competitive projects should demonstrate substantial understanding of the issues, local sensitivities, existing programs targeting MDWs in Malaysia, sufficient staffing, documentation of identified cases of abuse of MDWs, partnerships with local civil society organizations, and avoidance of direct assistance to governments.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental organizations (NGO), public international organizations, private or state institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations or businesses. Cost sharing or matching is not required. Applicants should have existing or develop active partnerships with thematic or in-country partners and demonstrate experience in administering successful projects.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for the contract is 12-36 months with an anticipated time to award pending availability of funds at 4-6 months.

Grant Value
$800,000 is the total funding floor with an anticipated number of awards at 1.

Place of Performance
The grant will be performed in Malaysia.