"We cannot back away now just because of some economic benefit we might gain in this spurious trade agreement. ... We must make sure there is no change in the rating of Malaysia as long as there has been no change in Malaysia's actions."
AFL-CIO, "Outraged"
The AFL-CIO issued the following statement,
"AFL-CIO Condemns State Department Upgrade of Malaysia on Trafficking List
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in response to reports indicating the United States is prepared to upgrade the Malaysian government in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report:"We are outraged by this clearly political decision, which undermines the integrity of the TIP Report and signals that the U.S. is willing to turn a blind eye to modern slavery and grave human and labor rights abuses in order to advance its trade agenda.
"The situation in Malaysia has not improved: forced labor, human trafficking, and exploitation remain pervasive. If Malaysia is rewarded with greater market access under the Trans-Pacific Partnership without having to first undertake fundamental reforms, there will be little incentive for Malaysia to end this brutality. Unfortunately, the administration appears to be resolute in forging a flawed trade agreement with countries that currently violate fundamental labor and human rights while continuing a global race to the bottom in wages and working conditions."
NETWORK, "Shocked"
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby issued a statement that begins,
"We are shocked by reports that the U.S. State Department plans to upgrade Malaysia's status to the 'Tier 2 Watch List' on human trafficking. If true, this is nothing more than a crass, political ploy to circumvent U.S. legislative requirements that Tier 3 countries be barred from 'fast track' trade deals. According to Sister Simone Campbell, NETWORK's Executive Director, 'This can only be seen as a cynical political action meant to bolster Malaysia's trade status with the U.S. at the expense of countless human trafficking victims. Coming so soon after the discovery in May of almost 150 graves in Malaysian camps of trafficking victims, the State Department's reported decision cannot be justified on any level.'"
CWA, "Horrific"
The Communications Workers of America (CWA),
"'The Trafficking in Persons Report -- and the horrific human rights abuses that remain ongoing in Malaysia in particular -- is too important to have its credibility sacrificed for short-term political expediency' said Shane Larson, Legislative Director of CWA. 'It is outrageous that the State Department would turn a blind eye to some of the most egregious trafficking that we have seen in years simply to grease the skids for passage of a trade agreement designed to benefit multinational corporations.'"
Others
Rep. Sander Levin is "deeply disturbed" by the report,
"Reports of a change in Malaysia's human trafficking ranking are deeply disturbing. I will thoroughly review the rationale in the report when it is released. It is crucial that consideration of Malaysia's record on human trafficking reflect the realities on the ground and not a glossing over of those realities to assist Malaysia's participation in TPP."
Senator Benjamin Cardin, from the Reuters report,
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