Held at Mines Beach Resort, Selangor Jaya, from 15 to 17 May 2025, the Timber Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia (TEUPM), a BWI affiliate in Malaysia, conducted a workshop carrying the theme Course on Laws and Working Decrees in Malaysia. A total of 22 participants, including representatives from TEUPM branches and members of its executive committee, attended the event.

The workshop focused on various Malaysian labour regulations, with particular emphasis on migrant workers, a key organising focus of TEUPM. In his opening speech, TEUPM President Mohd Hafizuddin Bin Mohd Shaid explained that the programme aimed to strengthen the capacity of the executive committee and branch leaders by deepening their understanding of laws relating to migrant workers and equipping them to apply that knowledge in practice.

“We hope that our advocacy for migrant workers in Malaysia will grow stronger, and that TEUPM will continue to play a central role in advancing their rights,” he said.

TEUPM Secretary-General Rasdi Bin Abu Hanipah echoed this sentiment, highlighting the complexity of labour issues in Malaysia and the need for coordinated advocacy efforts. “Together with BWI, we will collaborate not only at the national level but also globally through certification systems and international campaigns,” Rasdi said. He also noted that advocacy is needed not only for migrant workers but also for local workers, especially on issues such as wages, working hours, social security, and occupational safety and health (OSH).

Marlon Quesada, Coordinator of BWI’s Global Organising Academy, underscored the importance of the workshop as part of BWI’s broader effort to strengthen its affiliates in Malaysia. He announced that participants from this training would be invited to join the upcoming Global Organising Academy (GOA) training scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur later this year.

“We are committed to building stronger organisers and raising awareness of unionism. We hope to see a surge in membership recruitment as a result of these efforts,” Marlon said.