Abstract
This article uses the content analysis (CA) to examine the secondary data on the migrant workers in the seaweed sector in Sabah, Malaysia, and analyzed the migrant workers’ contributions to the sector and kinds of socio-cultural, economic, and legal challenges they faced. Through online academic publication searching, six academic papers and reports, and three media news stories about the migrant workers in the seaweed sector in Malaysia were found. In these articles and new stories, three major themes were identified: the number of migrant workers, their contribution to the seaweed sector, and the problems and challenges they faced. Under theme three, the subthemes included stereotypes, threats, risks, poverty, wages, and exploitation. The article found that migrant workers produced most of the seaweed in different regions in Sabah, Malaysia. However, the authorities do not directly recognize the contribution of migrant workers, as most workers in the seaweed sector are undocumented. The stateless status of most migrant workers has jeopardized the workers in the sector and provided power to the middlemen to exploit them. Stereotypes concerning migrant workers—low daily wages and low production rates—are significant issues and problems in their lives, which together exacerbate their economic and social misery and vulnerability. Although occupational health and safety are a prime concern in seaweed farming, no details were found concerning the health and safety of the migrant workers in the sector. Cumulatively, these factors (challenges to the migrant workers) may decrease the quantity and inferior quality of seaweed in Malaysia.
Highlights
In 2013, the Malaysian seaweed sector contributed 1% (269,431 metric tonnes) of the total world seaweed production (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2015)
Through Google Scholar and Google search engines, news stories, and academic articles linked to the seaweed sector and migrant workers in Malaysia were identified—the search was customized to collect news stories that only talked about migrant workers in the seaweed sector in Malaysia
content analysis (CA) reveals many gray areas that have to be addressed to promote and increase seaweed production and protect the right of migrant workers who contribute to the Malaysian economy under harsh working conditions
Summary
In 2013, the Malaysian seaweed sector contributed 1% (269,431 metric tonnes) of the total world seaweed production (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2015). Malaysia is the third-largest international seaweed carrageenan producer—20,297 tons of dried seaweed in 2016—the seaweed sector has faced ethnic tensions between indigenous growers and migrant workers, which has resulted in a poor understanding of the sector (Nor et al, 2020). In this tension, issues relating to the welfare of the seaweed-cultivating migrant communities (whether legal or illegal), and their social, cultural, and economic problems, have received little attention in social science research. The role of migrant workers in the seaweed sector has been ignored and under-highlighted (Hussin & Khoso, 2017)
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