Employers in Malaysia are strengthening workplace safety and health management through a new digital assessment tool introduced by the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), with support from the European Union-funded PROTECT project. Over 80 employers from across the Klang Valley took part in hands-on training in Port Klang on 20 July to apply the tool in their workplaces.
The MEF-ILO Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Digital Assessment Tool is designed to help employers conduct occupational safety and health assessments in a more systematic, practical and efficient manner through a digital platform. Participants were also introduced to the OSH Workplace Assessment (OSHAWA) Handbook, a practical reference guide developed by MEF to support organizations in strengthening their workplace safety and health management practices.
"This training is an excellent opportunity to enhance our knowledge, exchange experiences and strengthen collaboration in promoting safer and healthier workplaces. As work environments continue to evolve with new technologies and emerging risks, continuous learning is essential. During this programme, participants will also be introduced to the OSH Workplace Assessment Tool, which will help organizations assess and strengthen their occupational safety and health performance. Their participation reflects a shared commitment to building stronger OSH capacity, improving compliance with safety standards and fostering a positive safety culture," said MEF Chief Executive Dato' Seri Rosman Mohamed.
"This tool is very useful. The guidelines are detailed and explain how the law applies in clear terms. For a company like ours with a large workforce, including many migrant workers, that clarity matters. I'll be introducing it to the rest of my safety team and encouraging them to use it. We also have many subsidiaries, and I can see this being used across them so each can carry out its own OSH assessments independently and take the steps needed to improve working conditions and safety," said Tee Zack Yong, Safety Officer at a multinational manufacturer.
A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work, recognized by the International Labour Conference in 2022. Strengthening OSH practice across Malaysia's workforce is also central to Sustainable Development Goal 8, which calls for the protection of labour rights and the promotion of safe working environments for all workers.
This initiative builds on recent strengthening of Malaysia's OSH legal framework, including amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 that expanded coverage across workplaces and introduced stronger risk assessment requirements. It also responds to growing expectations among international buyers and supply chains for stronger workplace safety performance as part of responsible business conduct and human rights due diligence - making strong workplace safety practices a matter of both worker protection and business competitiveness.
Migrant workers make up a substantial share of Malaysia's workforce, including in sectors with elevated occupational safety and health risks such as manufacturing, construction, plantations and services. They may face particular barriers to safety, including language gaps that can limit understanding of hazards and safety procedures, as well as increased vulnerability to workplace violence and harassment, particularly for migrant women in care and domestic work. Consistent application of the digital assessment tool across workplaces, including those employing migrant workers, can help employers identify and address these gaps more systematically.
A distinctive feature of this initiative is its focus on sustainability. Rather than a one-off intervention, the OSH Digital Assessment Tool and OSHAWA Handbook are designed to be integrated into MEF's ongoing advisory and training services for its members, enabling MEF to continue providing these resources beyond the duration of ILO project support. This approach is expected to strengthen MEF's long-term capacity to support workplace safety across sectors. The training in Port Klang is part of a wider series of activities under the ILO-MEF partnership, which will extend to additional locations across Malaysia, including outreach to employers in Sabah and Sarawak. The programme will also include a pilot advisory component to support companies in applying the tool directly in their workplaces.
The PROTECT project is also supporting MEF and Malaysian employers in other aspects of OSH compliance, including a recently launched survey on employers' provision of housing for migrant workers aimed at improving standards and compliance. Other areas of support include collaboration on fair recruitment and human rights due diligence, including a new toolkit recently launched by MEF with support from PROTECT.
