Engaging local organizations is crucial to improving labor conditions because they are deeply embedded in local contexts and often serve as trusted intermediaries between workers, communities, and the private sector. When ILAB’s funding was terminated, the MY Voice project in Malaysia was gearing up to launch an innovative funding program called the Advocacy and Engagement Initiative (AEI). The goal of the AEI was to enable civil society organizations, unions, and informal groups advocating for labor rights in Malaysia to launch or expand their awareness-raising activities and initiatives, while building the skills necessary to continue this work in the long term.  

Malaysia is the world’s second-largest palm oil producer and a significant exporter of garments - two sectors critical to U.S. and global consumers and businesses, which have been flagged by the U.S. Department of Labor for potential forced labor and child labor issues. Building local capacity and awareness of rights is crucial to addressing these issues, as sustainable, long-term change depends on the ability of local actors to take ownership of labor issues and continually prevent, detect, and respond to violations.