When Justice is Out of Reach, Abuse of Migrants Thrives
“When access to justice means a long time with no work and income, unable to be home, burdened with cost of living and travel, and facing uncertainty about if justice will be served.”
These words from Johannie Tong of Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW) in Hong Kong reflect the struggle faced by many migrants across Asia, where legal systems often fail to protect their rights.
Last August, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) launched a social media campaign on Access to Justice as part of its work to strengthen the voices of migrants and refugees. To reach more people, materials were produced in Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, and Bengali.
Last August, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) launched a social media campaign on Access to Justice as part of its work to strengthen the voices of migrants and refugees. To reach more people, materials were produced in Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, and Bengali.
APMM deems it important to show these realities—especially as they continue to intensify:
In Bangladesh, migrants often rely on unregistered sub-agents to get overseas jobs. Because these agents are not regulated, fraud and abuse are common. When cases are reported, complaints rarely move forward since laws do not cover sub-agents. Migrants are left without protection or remedy.
In Malaysia, domestic workers and refugees report wage theft, forced labor, and confiscation of documents. Justice is slow, and coordination between Malaysian and origin-country authorities is weak. Refugees face even greater barriers because they are denied legal status, excluded from services, and prevented from defending themselves in court.
In Hong Kong, more than half of migrant domestic workers lack a private place to rest. Many sleep in kitchens, storage rooms, or even bathrooms. Low wages, the mandatory “live-in rule,” and restrictive policies like the “two-week rule” make them even more vulnerable.
These examples reveal systemic barriers. Many migrants are excluded from basic labor protections—without guarantees of fair wages, rest days, or interpreters in court. The case of Filipina migrant worker Mary Jane Veloso, whose trial in Indonesia lacked proper translation, shows how language barriers can endanger even the most basic rights.
To address these problems, APMM together with network and grassroots groups developed the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) Indicators by Migrants and Refugees. These tools were created by migrants and refugees themselves through consultations and workshops, ensuring they reflect on-ground experiences.
The Indicators are grouped into seven clusters: access to justice; health, education, and social protection; women migrants’ rights and welfare; decent work; anti-trafficking; drivers of migration; and rights and participation. They have three main goals: to measure how governments uphold migrant and refugee rights, to guide concrete policy recommendations, and to ensure migrants play a meaningful role in shaping the GCM.
Read more about the GCM Indicators by Migrants and Refugees here
