Child Issues in Malaysia

CHILD LABOR
 
Based on the Anti-Slavery Society Report, 9.5% of all boys and 5.5% of all girls between the ages of 10 and 14 belonged to the labor force in Malaysia. Child labor can be found in all sectors of the economy. In the urban areas, children make up an essential part of the work-force in catering, small scale industry and commerce, where they make up at least one-third of the workforce.

The explanation for the widespread use of child labor in Malaysia is a result of the uneven nature of the growth of the Malaysian economy over the last decade, which has limited development to certain sectors. High capital investment has been restricted to the foreign and multinational owned electronics and textiles industries which occupy the Free Trading Zones. The other sectors like agriculture and small-scale industries have not had inputs in terms of capital or improved technology and, therefore, they remain viable only by cutting down on labor costs in order to maximize profits. These are some of the important factors for the growing demand for child labor.

In Malaysia, over 43,000 children between the ages of 10 to 14 have started working to supplement the family income. Of these,  

• 10,214 worked in the rubber estates 
• 11,609 were involved with agricultural activities 
• 8,058 in commerce and services 
• 4,233 in the manufacturing sector 
• 8,927 were classified as others

Child labor is a major problem in the oil palm and rubber estates of Malaysia. 60% of the child labor force was to be found in the age range of 6-10 in the oil palm plantations and 56% of the working children in the rubber estates are between the age of 10 and 12.


CHILD ABUSE

According to UNICEF Malaysia 2010, the number of reported child abuse cases in Malaysia has been increasing in the last few years with an increase of 700 reported cases between 2006 and 2008. Despite significant strides made by the Government in improving child protection measures in recent years, statistics from the Department of Social Welfare show a rise in reported child abuse cases in Malaysia:

• 2008: 2,780 child abuse reports 
• 2007: 2,279 child abuse reports
• 2006: 1,999 child abuse reports

Based on 2008 reported figures, neglect is the most common form of child abuse in Malaysia. The breakdown of the three key forms of abuse is as follows:  

• 952 child victims experienced neglect, meaning a caretaker failed to provide for the child’s basic needs. Failure to provide care and supervision has become the most frequent cause of death among children. 
• 863 child victims were physically abused. 
• 733 child victims were sexually abused, 72% were incest. 
• 58 child victims were abandoned babies. 

The impact of abuse is far greater than its immediate, visible effects. Abuse is associated with short- and long-term consequences that may include:  

• brain damage
• developmental delays
• learning disorders
• problems forming relationships
• aggressive behavior
• depression

Survivors of child abuse and neglect may be at greater risk for problems that affect not just the child and family, but society as a whole later in life, such as:  

• low academic achievement 
• drug use 
• teen pregnancy 
• criminal behavior 

Child abuse causes a country the loss of human potential. For example:  

• an abused child is less likely to be able to fulfill his/her potential to contribute to society 
• damage done to the country’s economy due to lost productivity in the workforce 
• pain and suffering for the child and family