Strengthening Local Leadership to Combat Forced and Child Labour

group of people dancing in a classroom — Participants in MY Voice CSO training (September 2024)

Community support systems, such as local civil society organisations (CSOs), unions, and community groups, are vital in addressing forced labour and child labour. These groups are deeply rooted in the local context and culture, giving them a nuanced understanding of the challenges. Their close connection to the communities allows them to respond quickly and effectively to urgent situations, providing critical support to workers and their families.

The MY Voice community initiative aims to amplify the voices of workers and civil society in the fight against forced and child labour, with a particular focus on the Malaysian palm oil and garment industries. We believe that local actors must lead the charge in addressing these issues. By promoting the involvement and leadership of local stakeholders, MY Voice aims to increase awareness and create platforms where local organisations and worker communities can discuss labour rights, identify problems, and develop practical solutions. This collaborative approach ensures that proposed solutions are not only aligned with the workers’ needs and local context, but are also technically and financially viable, ensuring that workers have a say in decisions that impact their lives.

MY Voice’s Strategy for Community Empowerment

To understand the specific challenges faced by these communities, MY Voice works closely with respected and trusted community leaders and organisations, equipping them with skills and knowledge needed to effectively tackle forced and child labour.

MY Voice Community Engagement Approach

1. Identifying CSOs, Unions, and Community Groups:

We focus on those with established relationships with worker communities, particularly those addressing forced and child labour in the palm oil and garment industries in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.

2. Training and Capacity Building:

Building knowledge and skills that will help communities tackle the root causes of child and forced labour, through:

Education and Awareness: Training to deepen understanding of forced labour, child labour, anti-discrimination, and gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace.
Skill Enhancement: Building skills of CSO and union trainers to enhance their advocacy and engagement activities with workers.
Technology Integration: Introducing worker voice technology, such as the Just Good Work app, to bolster advocacy and engagement efforts.
Hands-On Experience: Practical training and peer-sharing opportunities on topics such as organisational operation, project management, and grant management, with an emphasis on long-term sustainability and collaboration among local actors.

3. Supporting Local Leadership and Community Actions:

Helping communities put their knowledge and skills to use addressing root causes of child and forced labour, through:

Action Planning Workshops: CSOs, unions, and community groups come together to identify priority areas for advocacy and engagement.
Strategic Planning: Groups develop and implement strategic plans targeting specific forced labour and child labour issues in the palm oil and garment industries.
Community Actions: Initiatives emerge from the workshops, designed to have a direct, positive impact on the well-being of worker communities. MY Voice will provide funding to support these community-driven advocacy and engagement activities.

Creating a Supportive Ecosystem

Community- and grassroots-led efforts are complementary to MY Voice initiatives focused on private and public sector action. Working through these multiple strategies, MY Voice aims to foster an environment where private, public, and civil society actors align to fight forced labour and child labour.

While employer social compliance systems dan remediation systems are crucial for preventing and addressing child and forced labour at the organization level, they cannot address all the root causes of vulnerability that lead people into child and forced labour situations. Raising awareness and capacity at the community level to address root causes (and connecting this with increased awareness and support at the government level), helps reinforce the effectiveness of social compliance systems while improving conditions for workers and their families. It also enhances the community’s ability to interact with companies’ stakeholder engagement activities—strengthening worker and stakeholder voice in social compliance systems.

By empowering local organisations and worker communities, MY Voice seeks to foster sustainable and impactful change in the collective fight against forced and child labour. We are currently seeking CSO, union, and community participants for our initiatives in the palm oil and garment industries. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us at contact@myvoiceproject.org.