Migrant Workers in the Seaweed Sector in Sabah, Malaysia

This article uses the content analysis (CA) to examine the secondary data on the migrant workers in the seaweed sector in Sabah, Malaysia, and analyzed the migrant workers’ contributions to the sector and kinds of socio-cultural, economic, and legal challenges they faced. Through online academic publication searching, six academic papers and reports, and three media news stories about the migrant workers in the seaweed sector in Malaysia were found. In these articles and new stories, three major themes were identified: the number of migrant workers, their contribution to the seaweed sector, and the problems and challenges they faced. Under theme three, the subthemes included stereotypes, threats, risks, poverty, wages, and exploitation. The article found that migrant workers produced most of the seaweed in different regions in Sabah, Malaysia. However, the authorities do not directly recognize the contribution of migrant workers, as most workers in the seaweed sector are undocumented. The stateless status of most migrant workers has jeopardized the workers in the sector and provided power to the middlemen to exploit them. Stereotypes concerning migrant workers—low daily wages and low production rates—are significant issues and problems in their lives, which together exacerbate their economic and social misery and vulnerability. Although occupational health and safety are a prime concern in seaweed farming, no details were found concerning the health and safety of the migrant workers in the sector. Cumulatively, these factors (challenges to the migrant workers) may decrease the quantity and inferior quality of seaweed in Malaysia.