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Getting it Right on Migrant Workers
By daniel | September 10, 2009
If you wonder what to do with an influx of migrant workers into your area, do what some churches in Malaysia have done. In 2002 the participating churches began what is called Migrant Ministry Klang.
Here are some facts they’ve gathered as they’ve responded to the needs of migrant workers:
Malaysia is the home for more than 2.5 million migrant workers from South and South East Asia. This makes up to about 10% of Malaysia’s population. They mainly work as laborers in plantations, manufacturing, construction, and service industries. They normally do the “3D jobs” – the Dangerous, Difficult and Dirty jobs.
There was a great inflow of migrant workers in the years 1992-1996. Most of them were from Indonesia and Bangladesh. Due to financial crisis most of the workers were sent back in 1997. However, for economical growth and stability the foreign workers had to be brought back. So once again the inflow started in the year 2002. If you see the list of the people groups who are in Malaysia, they are from nations in the 10/40 windows, who cannot be reached with the Gospel easily. God has brought them to our door steps and made Malaysia the biggest “Mission field” today.
The statistics show that there are about 1.8 million legal workers in Malaysia and there are more than 800,000 illegal working and living in Malaysia.
Recently the Human resource ministry announced that the migrant population will be increased to 5 million by the year 2010 to keep up to the development of the country.
May the dedication of the MMK churches spur the rest of us on to good works.
Topics: Worldwide |