Abstract
This study, Bridging Gaps, Building Support: Strengthening Services for Forced Labour Cases, commissioned under the Advancing Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work on Forced Labour and Child Labour in Malaysia project and supported by Employment and Social Development Canada, offers a timely and critical examination of the service delivery landscape for victims and survivors of forced labour in Malaysia. It builds on the findings of the ILO’s Migrant Workers’ Empowerment and Advocacy (MWEA) project and provides a deeper understanding of the systemic, legal, and operational barriers that hinder effective support. The study highlights the essential roles played by civil society organizations and trade unions in filling service gaps, often under challenging conditions and with limited resources. It also underscores the importance of government leadership in creating an enabling environment for coordinated, victim centred, and trauma-informed service provision. Importantly, it calls for a shift from fragmented and reactive responses to a more integrated and sustainable support system.