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当时，唐南发正在联合国难民署（UNHCR）工作，这段经历使他得以了解许多寻求庇护者所面临的困境。其中一位，就是来自缅甸掸邦的年轻华人难民阿富。阿富在一家华人开的小工厂里工作，然而，他的老板拖欠了他整整四个月的薪水，让他生活陷入绝境。在向难民署提交相关文件后仍未见进展，唐先生决定亲自介入。 他拨通了老板的电话。对方一听是为阿富讨薪，态度立刻变得恶劣。唐南发没有与他争吵，而是冷静地陈述事实与法律后果：“老板没有关系。我现在只是告诉你，不管他有没有合法身份，你请了他，他跟你做了这么多个月，没有拿到薪水是不应该，马来西亚有这样的案例，即使是难民，只要能证明他为你工作，劳工法庭也可能会判你必须支付薪水。” 老板最终不耐烦地挂断了电话。但两天后，唐南发接到了阿富的来电，电话那头的声音充满了感激：“谢谢你大哥，老板已经把薪水发给我了。” 这个结果证明，一个简单的电话，一次基于事实的冷静沟通，就能为一个走投无路的人追回他应得的尊严。 At the time, Josh Hong was working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an experience that exposed him to the many hardships faced by asylum seekers. One of them was Afu, a young ethnic Chinese refugee from Shan State, Myanmar. Afu worked at a small factory owned by a Chinese employer. However, his boss withheld his wages for four consecutive months, pushing him into a desperate situation. After Afu submitted the relevant documents to UNHCR and saw no progress, Josh Hong decided to intervene personally. He called the employer. Upon realising the call was about Afu’s unpaid wages, the employer’s tone immediately turned hostile. Josh Hong did not argue. Instead, he calmly laid out the facts and the legal implications: “It doesn’t matter. I am just telling you this: regardless of whether he has legal status or not, you hired him, and he worked for you for months. Not paying his wages is wrong. There are cases like this in Malaysia. Even if he is a refugee, as long as he can prove that he worked for you, the labour court may rule that you are required to pay him.” The employer impatiently hung up the phone. Two days later, Josh Hong received a call from Afu. On the other end of the line was a voice filled with gratitude. “Thank you, brother. The boss has already paid me my wages.” This outcome proved that sometimes, a single phone call, grounded in facts and delivered with calm resolve,can help someone at the edge of despair reclaim what should never have been taken from them: their dignity. 故事来源：唐南发 Story source: Josh Hong

在马来西亚，有超过 200 万名合法外籍劳工，他们来自 15 个不同国家，主要从事体力劳动密集型工作。了解这些劳工的来源国及主要从事的行业，有助于我们更全面地认识身边的外籍劳工群体。 In Malaysia, more than 2 million legal migrant workers  come from 15 different countries , primarily working in labour-intensive sectors. Understanding their countries of origin and the industries they work in help us gain a clearer picture of the migrant worker community around us. 外籍劳工主要来自哪些国家？ (截至2025年6月30日 - 自由今日大马（Free Malaysia Today,FMT) Which countries do Migrant workers come from? (As of 30 June 2025 — Free Malaysia Today) 根据《自由今日大马》(Free Malaysia Today, FMT) 的数据（截至2025年6月30日），外籍劳工的来源国及人数分布高度集中： 前三大来源国——孟加拉、印尼和尼泊尔的劳工人数占总数的约 78%。 其中，孟加拉是人数最多的来源国，占总人数约 37.5%。 这一数据表明，马来西亚的外籍劳工主要集中在少数几个国家，他们在本地劳动力市场中扮演着重要角色，尤其是在体力劳动密集型行业。 According to data from Free Malaysia Today (as of June 30, 2025), the distribution of migrant workers by country of origin is highly concentrated: The top three source countries—Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nepal—account for about 78%  of all migrant workers in Malaysia. Among them, Bangladesh is the largest source , making up around 37.5%  of the total. This indicates that Malaysia’s migrant labour force is dominated by workers from a few key countries, especially in sectors that rely heavily on manual labour. 外籍劳工主要从事哪些行业？ (截至2025年10月15日 - 南洋商报） Which industries employ the most migrant workers? (As of 15 October 2025 — Nanyang Siang Pau) 外籍劳工主要集中在需要大量体力且本地人较少参与的行业。截至2025年，马来西亚已经有超过 75%  的外籍劳工就业于制造业、建筑业与服务业，是推动这些行业运作的重要力量。 Migrant workers in Malaysia are concentrated in physically demanding industries that fewer locals are participating in. As of 2025, over 75%  of migrant workers are employed in manufacturing, construction, and services , being the main driving forces for these sectors.  小知识： 截至 2025 年，马来西亚有 约 213 万名合法外籍劳工。与去年相比，人数略微下降，约减少 13%。 Fun Fact: As of 2025, there are 2.13 million legal migrant workers in Malaysia. Compared to the previous year, the number has decreased about 13%. 资料来源： Free Malaysia Today. (2025, August 28). 2.14 juta pekerja asing di Malaysia .   https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/08/28/2-14-juta-pekerja-asing-di-malaysia e南洋商报. (2025年11月3日). 外劳人数大减13％ 大马经济走向“去依赖时代.”   https://www.enanyang.my/news/20251103/Finance/1053310

根据国际劳工组织（International Labour Organization, 2023）的定义，外籍劳工是指为了就业而从一个国家迁移到另一个国家的人。因此，那些离开原居国、来到马来西亚从事工作的外籍人士，就属于外籍劳工。 在马来西亚，外籍劳工从事的大多是体力劳动，例如制造业、建筑业、服务业、种植业、农业、家庭佣工以及采矿及采石业。外籍劳工得到的准证为“临时就业准证” [Visit Pass (Temporary Employment), VP(TE)]。 VP(TE)适用于在上述行业工作的外籍劳工；而若外籍人士是从事专业或技术性行业，则会获发“就业准证”（Employment Pass）。 近年来的“移工”又是在称呼谁？ 近年来，“移工”这一称呼被更频繁地使用。在马来西亚，多数人习惯将外籍劳工简称为“外劳”。然而，“外劳”原本为中性词，随着时间推移却逐渐被赋予混乱、社会安全隐患及不卫生等负面含义，因而出现了污名化的问题。 基于此，不少倡议者提出使用“外籍移工”（Lan, 2005）这一更为中性、范围也更广的称呼，用以指代跨境流动的劳动者；“外劳”亦属于“移工”涵盖的范围之一。 在后续内容中，我们将沿用马来西亚较为常见的“外籍劳工”作为主要称呼，但读者在日常生活中也可以使用“移工”这一更中性的词汇来指代相关群体。 “Foreign Workers” and “Migrant Workers” According to the International Labour Organization (ILO, 2023), migrant workers are individuals who migrate from one country to another for employment.  In Malaysia, migrant workers are primarily engaged in manual labour, including manufacturing, construction, services, plantations, agriculture, domestic work, as well as mining and quarrying. Migrant workers are issued the Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) [VP(TE)]. The VP(TE) applies to migrant workers in the sectors listed above, whereas foreign nationals employed in professional or technical fields are issued an Employment Pass. Who are referred to as “migrant workers” in recent years? In recent years, the term migrant worker has been used more frequently. In Malaysia, the general public often refers to migrant workers as “wai lao” (foreign labour). Although originally neutral, the term gradually became associated with negative connotations—such as disorder, security issues, and poor hygiene—leading to stigmatization over time. Because of this, many advocates have proposed using the term “yi gong” (migrant workers) (Lan, 2005), which is more neutral and broader in scope, to refer to cross-border labourers; the commonly used term “foreign labour” is also included within the broader category of migrant workers. In the following content, we will use the term “migrant workers”  to refer to this group. However, the term “foreign workers”  remains the more commonly used expression in Malaysia.

合法 vs. 不合法 合法外籍劳工：一般是指拥有“临时就业准证” [Visit Pass (Temporary Employment), VP(TE)]的外籍劳工。申请者年龄通常限制在 18 至 45 岁（家庭佣工除外），准证最长可延长至 10 年，持证者可凭此证在马来西亚合法工作。 非法外籍劳工：一般是指没有正式工作准证，或在工作期间失去合法身份的人。非法外籍劳工更容易遭受剥削，无法获得薪资的同时，还得承担被执法人员抓住并遣返回国的风险。 小知识： 即使外籍劳工持有临时就业准证（VP(TE)），但若其准证上的雇主或工作资讯与实际受雇情况不符，该准证也会被视为无效，因而使其处于不合法的状态。 被限制的条件：即使是合法外籍劳工，他们的权利也有所限制，例如不能随意更换雇主、不能携带家属到马来西亚、也不能申请永久居留。 雇主聘请外籍劳工的基本流程 在马来西亚，聘请外籍劳工是一个受到严格监管的程序。为了确保雇佣关系合法且保障劳工权益，雇主必须符合人力资源部（MOHR）所制定的资格条件，且不得违反任何相关劳动法令，例如： 《1955年雇佣法令》（Employment Act 1955） 《1969年雇员社会保险法令》（Employees’ Social Security Act 1969） 《1990年雇员住宿与设施最低标准法令》 《2011年国家薪资咨询理事会法令》 以及任何涉及人口贩卖或强迫劳动的罪行 在取得资格后，雇主还需承担聘用外籍劳工的大部分费用与责任。整个聘用流程一般包括以下步骤： 1. 获得正式批准： 雇主必须先向人力资源部（MOHR）劳工局局长提出聘请外籍劳工的申请，并获得批准。 2. 办理准证： 雇主需要协助外籍劳工准备好必要的准证，包括签证、临时就业准证、入境许可等，确保受聘的外籍劳工以合法身份入境。 3. 缴纳费用： 所有的招聘费用，例如税金、准证费、签证费等，都必须由雇主支付，以避免外籍劳工背负大量债务（debt bondage）。 4.劳动合同和福利： 雇主必须提供一份外籍劳工能够准确理解的劳动合同，并依据马来西亚相关的劳动法令，提供基本的薪资与福利，以及不得实施强迫劳动。 5. 禁止扣留证件： 雇主被禁止没收或扣留外籍劳工的护照等证件，这属于违法行为。 资料来源： (Immigration Department of Malaysia, 2025; International Organization of Migration, 2025). Legal vs. Illegal Workers Legal migrant workers are generally those who hold a Visit Pass (Temporary Employment), VP(TE). Applicants are required to be between 18 and 45 years old (excluding domestic workers). The pass can be renewed for up to 10 years, allowing the holder to legally work in Malaysia. Illegal migrant workers are those who do not have a valid work permit or have lost their legal status during employment. Undocumented workers are more vulnerable to exploitation, may not receive wages, and face the risk of arrest and deportation by enforcement authorities. Fun Fact: Even if a migrant worker holds a VP(TE), the pass will become invalid if the employer or job stated on the permit does not match the worker’s actual employment situation. In such cases, the worker would then be considered undocumented. Restricted Rights: legal migrant workers, still face several limitations—they cannot freely change employers, bring family members to Malaysia, or apply for permanent residency. Basic Steps for Employers to hire Migrant Workers In Malaysia, hiring migrant workers is a highly regulated process. To ensure legal compliance and protect workers’ rights, employers must meet the requirements set by the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) and must not have violated any labour laws, such as: Employment Act 1955 Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 Also known as Act 446 National Wages Consultative Council Act 2011 Any offences related to human trafficking or forced labour Once eligible, employers are responsible for most of the costs and obligations involved in hiring migrant workers. The process typically includes the following steps: 1. Obtain Official Approval Employers must apply to the Director General of Labour at the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) for approval to hire migrant workers. 2. Permit Processing Employers must assist migrant workers in obtaining all required documents, including visas, the VP(TE), and entry permits, ensuring that workers enter Malaysia legally. 3. Payment of Fees All recruitment-related fees—such as levy, permit fees, and visa fees—must be paid by the employer to prevent migrant workers from falling into debt bondage. 4. Employment Contract and Welfare Employers must provide a contract written in a language the worker can understand and offer basic wages and benefits as required by Malaysian labour laws. Forced labour is strictly prohibited. 5. Prohibition of Confiscation of Documents Employers are strictly prohibited from withholding or confiscating migrant workers’ passports or other identity documents. This constitutes an offence. Sources:Immigration Department of Malaysia (2025); International Organization of Migration (2025).

外籍劳工面临的问题往往是“看不见的”（United Daily News, 2023）。 The difficulties encountered by migrant workers are often “invisible” (United Daily News, 2023). 文化和语言的障碍 听不懂，说不出：语言障碍带来的限制 语言不通让外籍劳工在工作环境中受到限制，沟通的不顺畅甚至会影响他们的工作效率，进而导致他们在工作中无法晋升(Salleh et al., 2021)。除此之外，当外籍劳工想要就医时，也可能会因为无法清晰地表述自身的状况，而导致治疗过程不顺畅。 不被尊重的信仰：宗教与文化实践受忽视 部分雇主不尊重外籍劳工的宗教和文化习俗。例如，有穆斯林女佣被强迫做一些和他们信仰冲突的工作，比如处理猪肉或被剥夺祷告时间（Nanyang Siang Pau, 2023; Omar & Ahmad, 2019）。 被贴上刻板标签：偏见造成的社会排斥 外籍劳工常常被有些人误认为是“教育程度低”或“可能带来安全问题”的人，甚至有些住宅区业主拒绝将房子租给他们。（China Press, 2022; United Daily News, 2023）。 女性外籍劳工面临双重脆弱处境 女性外籍劳工，尤其是家庭女佣，往往同时面临性别和外籍身份带来的双重不平等对待。由于身为女性，又属于外籍劳工群体，她们更容易遭遇不公平待遇与更高的弱势处境。 法律保护不足： 许多家庭女佣没有受到《1955年雇佣法令》的完整保障，可能没有固定的假期、加班费或病假（Oriental Daily, 2024）。 工作条件恶劣：家庭女佣可能会被拖欠工资、每天工作超过12个小时、无法获得足够的食物，甚至被孤立（Feminist Participatory Action Research, 2020; Omar & Ahmad, 2019）。 案例：根据女权主义参与式行动研究 (FPAR) 的一位印尼籍外籍家庭佣工受访者表示，在他8个月的工作期间，完全没有收到任何工资或补偿。由于长期被剥削和缺乏食物，他严重消瘦，入院后被诊断出脑部积水。在接受手术后，他只得空手返回印尼家乡。 证件被没收：很多雇主要求家庭女佣长时间工作，并扣留他们的护照等重要证件 (李佳纹,2025)。 经济上的困境 薪水被拖欠：有些外籍劳工无法按时获得他们应得的薪水，包括基本薪资以及加班费。虽然马来西亚《2025年国家薪金谘询理事会（修正）法令》( The National Wages Consultative Council (Amendment) Act 2025 )以及《2024年最低薪金指令》（Minimum wages order 2024）标明，最低薪金为每个月RM 1700，但执行上仍有不足之处（Yotwilai, 2025）。 好消息：强制性公积金（EPF）缴款 自2025年10月1日起，大部分拥有合法准证的外籍劳工和雇主都需要强制缴纳公积金（EPF）。这让他们在退休时可以领取储蓄，更有保障。（Employees Provident Fund Malaysia, 2025; ASEAN Briefing, 2025）。 Cultural and Language Barriers Unable to Understand or Express Themselves: Language Barriers Language barriers limit migrant workers in their work environment. Miscommunication may affect their work performance and even hinder career advancement (Salleh et al., 2021).In addition, when seeking medical treatment, migrant workers may struggle to describe their symptoms clearly, resulting in delays or inadequate care. Disrespected Beliefs: Overlooked Religious and Cultural Practices Some employers fail to respect the religious and cultural practices of migrant workers. For example, some Muslim domestic workers are forced to carry out tasks that contradict their religious beliefs, such as handling pork or are denied time for prayers (Nanyang Siang Pau, 2023; Omar & Ahmad, 2019). Stereotyping and Social Exclusion Migrant workers are often stereotyped as “poorly educated” or “posing security risks.” Some residential property owners refuse to rent their properties to them (China Press, 2022; United Daily News, 2023). Women Migrant Workers: Double Vulnerability Women migrant workers， especially domestic workers， often face layered discrimination due to both their gender and migrant status. This combination makes them more vulnerable to unfair treatment and exploitation. Lack of Legal Protection Many domestic workers are not fully protected under the Employment Act 1955 . This means they may have no guaranteed rest days, overtime pay, or sick leave (Oriental Daily, 2024). Harsh Working Conditions Domestic workers may face unpaid wages, work more than 12 hours a day, be denied adequate food, or experience isolation (Feminist Participatory Action Research, 2020; Omar & Ahmad, 2019). Case Example According to a correspondence  from Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR), an Indonesian domestic worker received no salary or compensation for eight months. Due to prolonged exploitation and lack of food, she became severely malnourished and was later hospitalized, where she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. After undergoing surgery, she returned to Indonesia empty-handed. Documents confiscated Many employers require domestic workers to work long hours and confiscate their passports or other important documents (Li, 2025). Financial Problems Delayed or Withheld Wages Some migrant workers do not receive their wages on time, including their basic salary and overtime payments. Although the National Wages Consultative Council (Amendment) Act 2025  and the Minimum Wages Order 2024  set the minimum wage at RM 1,700 per month , enforcement remains inadequate (Yotwilai, 2025). Good News: EPF Contributions Mandatory EPF Contributions (Starting 1 October 2025) Beginning 1 October 2025, most migrant workers with valid work permits, along with their employers, are required to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). This provides them with retirement savings and greater long-term financial security (Employees Provident Fund Malaysia, 2025; ASEAN Briefing, 2025).

莉亚是那种你在校园转角常常会遇到的人——总是忙忙碌碌，但看到你还会报以微笑。她从家乡来马的这几年，生活没有轰轰烈烈的大事，倒是充满许多小细节：工作的节奏、学生偶尔的迷糊、她最爱的Bakso（印尼肉丸粉）、还有放假时只想赖在家的慵懒。 这篇专访，就是想把这些微小、普通却无比真实的瞬间记录下来。 莉亚（Lia）的笑容很温柔， 是那种一看到就能让人放松的笑。她说她来自印度尼西亚的万隆(Bandung, Indonesia)，三年前来到马来西亚，在新纪元大学学院做清洁的工作。她语气轻轻的、慢慢的，但当我们谈起她的生活时，她的那份坦诚和直率，却让人觉得她比想象中更加的坚强。 “我在这里工作三年了。”她说的很轻描淡写，好像这些年花的时间只是眨眼之间，但实际上，背后藏着的是十年离乡背井的故事。在莉亚离开印尼前，她忆起自己曾经在工厂工作了将近十年，但那是结婚 、生孩子之前的人生。后来因为家里经济不稳定，所以她做出了一个非常重大的决定，便是离开家人和家乡，到国外工作。 “我选马来西亚，是因为这里离家近，从雅加达（Jakarta）来（这里）只要两个小时。这样父母也不会太担心。”她笑着说。 莉亚的工作时间是从早上七点半到下午四点半。这样的日子规律、朴实，却也乏味。她主要在学校工作，负责打扫宿舍楼、办公室和食堂厕所的卫生。谈起同学们总是友善地和她打招呼问好，让她觉得自己被尊重，也感到很开心。 当然，工作上也会有比较麻烦的时候。比如，有些学生会在她正忙着清洗厕所时仍然走进去上厕所，让她感到一头雾水。“有时候我也会觉得生气啦，但能怎么办呢？他们也是学生嘛。” 莉亚觉得那是她的工作，是她的分内事，所以即便生气她也没有埋怨，反而更多的是自我调适，展现了一位清洁工人应有的专业素养。 当问到莉亚是否遇到过不公平的对待时，她轻轻地摇摇头。“至少本地人（马来西亚人）没有，他们都很好。反而有时候是自己同乡的人看不起我们。”她把这些经验当作激励自己更努力的力量。“以前我很像Hello Kitty，一点点就哭。现在比较坚强了啦。” 生活的小确幸：朋友及休息日 工作之外的生活其实并不复杂。莉亚忆起她以前在这里也有好朋友，她叫贝德莉（Bedri），两个人平时会一起去KLCC、TRX、时代广场（Times Square）逛街。只是后来这位可以让她依靠的朋友回了印尼，或许是环境不同了，所以如今的联络也渐渐变少。 如今的她，假日多半在家休息。“工作很累”占据了她外出走走的机会。虽然她偶尔会去蒂蒂旺沙湖滨公园（Titiwangsa）走走，让自己轻松一下。问到平时有没有什么喜欢吃的东西，她说她喜欢去加影附近的 Plaza Metro Kajang，那里有一家好吃的肉丸（Bakso），还有巴东饭（Nasi Padang），让她能够找到家里的味道。 也许是思念家乡的缘故，Lia自己会比较常在家烹饪，她笑说自己煮的比较习惯自己的口味。 讲到家，她的眼泪止不住 莉亚在和我们团队一起打扫的期间，一直不自觉地提起家人。或许当时忙碌的氛围，让她短暂地忘记了悲伤。但当我们沉静下来，再度聊起家人这个话题时，莉亚的语气忽然有些伤感，眼眶也开始泛红。 “一定会想啊，我们离开父母这么久，见不到孩子，也见不到妈妈。我其实在马来西亚已经10年了，只回过家一次。那时候孩子还很小，现在已经18岁了。” 因为工作，莉亚不会随意请假回乡。她深知回去一次，除了是时间上的花费，也是金钱上的花费。莉亚虽然在外国工作，但是收入还是不够，生活上的开销还是很多。她表示，自己不是不想存钱，只是需要用钱的地方太多。 聊起这些时，她的手在轻轻搓着那张被泪水浸湿的纸巾，像是一个压抑思念的人，试着把自己的难过揉掉。 给所有离乡的人：不要放弃 访问最后，她想对所有像她一样在外打拼的外籍劳工说一句话： “像我这样离乡的战士们，在外面跟我一样的外籍劳工们，不要放弃，还没成功不要认输。不要听那些想打击我们的话。继续努力，专注赚钱。当然不要忘记祈祷。不管是穆斯林还是非穆斯林，每个人都有自己的信仰，继续加油吧，所有在外奋斗的人。“ 她说这段话的时候眼睛亮亮的，那不是单纯的鼓励，而是她十年来的体验、委屈、努力与坚持所换来的一句话。 莉亚的故事不是轰动、也不戏剧化，但是却有满满的重量。她站在我们身边，看起来普通又温柔，小小的身躯背负着一家人的希望。 Introduction Lia is the kind of person you often meet around in the campus corner, she is always busy, yet still offers a smile when she sees you. In the years since she came to Malaysia from her hometown, her life has not been marked by dramatic events. Instead, it is filled with small details: the rhythm of work, students’ occasional absent-mindedness, her favorite bakso (Indonesian meatball soup), and the laziness of wanting to stay home on her days off. This interview seeks to record these tiny, ordinary, yet deeply real moments. Lia has a gentle smile, one that instantly puts people at ease. She told us she is from Bandung, Indonesia, and came to Malaysia three years ago to work as a cleaner at New Era University College. She speaks softly and slowly, but when she talks about her life, her honesty and straightforwardness reveal a strength greater than one might expect. “I’ve been working here for three years,” she said lightly, as if those years had passed in the blink of an eye. Yet behind that simple statement lies a story of a decade spent away from home. Before leaving Indonesia, Lia recalled working in a factory for nearly ten years back when she was not yet married and had no children. Later, due to financial instability at home, she made a major decision: to leave her family and hometown to work abroad. “I chose Malaysia because it’s close to home. From Jakarta to here it only takes about two hours,” she said with a smile. “So that my parents wouldn’t worry too much.” Lia works from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Her days are regular and simple, but also repetitive. She mainly works on campus, cleaning dormitory floors, offices, and cafeteria toilets. She shared that students often greet her kindly, which makes her feel respected and happy. Of course, there are challenging moments at work too. For example, some students still enter the toilets while she is in the middle of cleaning them, leaving her feeling confused and frustrated. “Sometimes I do feel angry,” she said, “but what can I do? They’re students.” Lia sees it as part of her responsibility. Even when she feels upset, she does not complain. Instead, she adjusts herself, demonstrating the professionalism expected of a cleaner. When asked whether she had experienced unfair treatment, she gently shook her head. “At least not from locals (Malaysians). They’re all very kind. Sometimes it’s actually people from my own country who look down on us.” She treats these experiences as motivation to work harder. “I used to be like Hello Kitty, crying over the smallest things. But now I’m stronger,” she said with a small laugh. Small Joys in Life: Friends and Days Off Beside work, Lia’s life is fairly simple. She recalled having a close friend here before—her name was Bedri.  The two of them used to go shopping together at KLCC, TRX, and Times Square. Later, Bedri returned to Indonesia, and as their environments changed, they gradually lost contact. These days, Lia mostly spends her days off resting at home. “Work is very tiring,” she said, which often takes away her energy to go out. Occasionally, she visits Titiwangsa Lake Gardens to relax. When asked about her favorite foods, she mentioned Plaza Metro Kajang, where there is a good bakso restaurant as well as Nasi Padang. These foods help her find the taste of home. Perhaps because of homesickness, Lia often cooks for herself at home. She smiled and said she is simply more accustomed to her own cooking and flavors. When She Talks About Home, her tears flowed uncontrollably. While cleaning together with our team, Lia kept unconsciously mentioning her family. Perhaps the busyness helped her momentarily forget her sadness. But when we slowed down and returned to the topic of family, her tone suddenly grew heavy, and her eyes began to redden. “Of course I miss them. We’ve been away from our parents for so long. We can’t see our children, can’t see our mothers. I’ve actually been in Malaysia for ten years and only went home once. At that time my child was still very young, now they’re already 18.” Because of work, Lia does not take leave to return home easily. She knows that every trip back costs not only time but also money. Although she works abroad, her income is still limited, and daily expenses are many. She explained that it’s not that she doesn’t want to save money, it's just that there are simply too many necessities that require spending. As she spoke, her hands gently twisted the tissue soaked with tears, like someone trying to knead and erase her longing. A Message to All Who Are Far from Home: Don’t Give Up At the end of the interview, Lia wanted to say something to all migrant workers who, like her, are struggling far from home: “To warriors like me who have left home, to migrant workers out there like me, don’t give up. If you haven’t succeeded yet, don’t admit defeat. Don’t listen to those who try to bring us down. Keep working hard and focus on earning money. And of course, don’t forget to pray. Whether you’re Muslim or not, everyone has their own faith. Keep going, everyone who is fighting hard away from home.” When she said this, her eyes shone. It was not just encouragement, it was a sentence forged from ten years of experience, grievance, effort, and perseverance. Lia’s story is not sensational or dramatic, but it carries great weight. She stands beside us, looking ordinary and gentle, a small figure carrying the hopes of an entire family.

外国工人医疗检查监测局（FOMEMA）是马来西亚政府设立的机构，专门负责管理外籍劳工的医疗检查。 体检何时进行？ 外籍劳工必须在抵达马来西亚后的 30 天内完成体检。确保外籍劳工的身体健康状况符合工作与公共卫生要求。 每年都要检查吗？ 是的。根据现有政策，所有外籍劳工都必须进行年度健康体检（FOMEMA, 2024d）。 如果体检未通过，该怎么办？ 若体检结果显示外籍劳工患有传染病（如肺结核）或其他被认为不适合继续工作的疾病，雇主必须按照规定安排外籍劳工尽快回国。 体检费用由谁承担？ 体检费用：男性 RM209，女性 RM219，通常由雇主负责支付。 外籍劳工就医困境 医疗费用高：即便在政府医院，门诊费用也在 RM5–RM50 之间，对于外籍劳工而言仍是负担，导致许多人即使生病也不就医。 身份问题：没有合法身份的劳工出于担心身份暴露，往往避免前往医院就医（Loganathan et al., 2019）。 Post-Arrival Medical Examination Process FOMEMA (Foreign Workers Medical Examination Monitoring Agency) is a Malaysian government agency responsible for overseeing the medical screening of migrant workers. When should a medical check-up be conducted? Migrant workers must undergo a medical examination within 30 days after arriving in Malaysia to ensure their health condition meets occupational and public health requirements. Is the medical check-up required every year? Yes. Under current regulations, all migrant workers are required to undergo an annual health screening  (FOMEMA, 2024d). What happens if a worker fails the medical check-up? If the medical examination shows that the worker has a communicable disease (such as tuberculosis) or any condition deemed unsuitable for continued employment, the employer must arrange for the worker to return to their home country as soon as possible in accordance with regulations. Who pays for the medical check-up? The medical examination cost is typically paid by the employer. The usual fee is RM209 and RM219 for men and women respectively. Healthcare Challenges Faced by Migrant Workers High medical costs Even at government hospitals, outpatient fees range from RM5 to RM50 , which can still be a financial burden for migrant workers. As a result, many avoid seeking medical care even when they are ill. Issues related to legal status Illegal workers often avoid visiting clinics or hospitals due to fear of arrest or having their status exposed (Loganathan et al., 2019).

来自孟加拉国的 Samad Dewan， 2023 年与同乡好友 Bishnu  一起在中介安排下抵达马来西亚工作。他虽然拥有合法准证，但护照一直由雇主或中介保管。他在目前的 Mamak 档工作，这也是他抵马后的第一份工作，对工作与住宿的环境都表示满意。28 岁的他此行是为了赚钱，并计划明年回国成家。对他而言，最重要的依然是远在家乡的家人，他向我们展示手机里的照片，那是他的母亲与兄弟们。 Samad Dewan from Bangladesh came to Malaysia in 2023 with his fellow countryman and friend Banik through an agency arrangement. Although he holds a legal permit, his passport is kept by his employer or the agency. Samad works at a Mamak restaurant, which is also his first job since arriving in Malaysia, and he is satisfied with both his work and living conditions. At 28 years old, he came to Malaysia to earn money, planning to return home next year to form a family. For him, what matters most is his family back home. He showed us photos on his phone—his mother and siblings—highlighting the central place they hold in his life. Samad（右）和Bishnu（左）一起在Mamak档工作。 Samad (right) and Bishnu (left) work together at a mamak stall. Samad（左三）喜欢和朋友们一起出门并留影纪念。 Samad (third from the left) enjoys going out with friends and taking photos to capture the moments.