MALAYSIANSKINI | Driven by an eye-opening experience working at a mamak restaurant, Shahrizal Mizani embarked on a mission to advocate for workers' rights called Workers Unmuted.
The group is committed to educating young people nationwide about their rights as workers, a pressing and essential cause.
During his three-month tenure at the restaurant, Shahrizal (above, right) gained insight into the difficulties faced by workers in the country and the poor treatment of retail workers in the food and beverage (F&B) industry.
Recalling incidents of colleagues suffering mistreatment and employers withholding their passports, Shahrizal realised the urgent need for change in workers' rights awareness.
"The experience was eye-opening. It taught me about the harsh realities of life for some people and shed light on how F&B workers were treated," he told Malaysiakini.
He may be just 23 years old, but Shahrizal is committed to empowering youth with a comprehensive knowledge of workers' rights.
A difficult upbringing
Born to a Malay father and a Filipino mother, Shahrizal's upbringing and working experience shifted his ambitions from teaching to law.
"I aspired to be an educator because of the many role models I encountered in high school.
"However, my ambition changed due to my first working experience," he added.
The family first stayed in a village called Sungai Rumput in Kuala Lumpur before moving to a flat in Kota Damansara.
Despite financial constraints, he pursued a law degree, driven to make a difference in workers' lives.
He enrolled in the University Sains Islam Malaysia's Tamhidi Syariah and Law Foundation before taking a five-year bachelor’s degree in law and syariah at the same university.
His family was thrilled when he managed to enrol for the course and it was a huge step for them.
"They were genuinely grateful when I managed to enter university. I still vividly recall the day of admission when three generations of my family came to accompany me for registration," he added.
Unfortunately, his mother passed last year due to heart failure.
His father worked as a business manager in a tailor shop and his elder brother was a personal driver, leaving his only sister in high school.
“The past year has been challenging for my family. We first lost my mother, followed by my grandfather three months later,” he said.
Shahrizal added that the family remains resilient and supportive of each other through life obstacles despite the losses.
While his first year navigating the new life was a roller coaster ride, Shahrizal continued to push through and eventually landed him with the Tuanku Abdul Rahman scholarship.
The scholarship lifted his financial burden and led him to discover a new side of himself.
Through the scholarship, Shahrizal attended a two-year leadership programme meeting with prominent figures and more that eventually led him to set up Workers Unmuted.
“The experience has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to become a better leader for my community and aspire to be a changemaker in Malaysia,” he added.
In the future, he envisions himself involved with a legal aid centre while committing to Workers Unmuted’s advocacy work.
During the interview, Shahrizal was in Arizona, representing Malaysia for five weeks in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative under the US Department of State Exchange Programme.
Future of Workers Unmuted
When he first set up the group, he wanted to empower every youth in the country with a comprehensive understanding of workers' rights and educate the public about employment law's intricacies.
"Beyond education, our platform served as a beacon of advocacy for workers facing oppression and mistreatment. That will encourage them to 'unmute' themselves and bravely confront injustices in their workplaces," he added.
He added that based on the group's work, they noticed many youths had voiced their concern about workers’ rights, particularly with the absence of robust human resources policies.
Indeed, they demanded education on this subject.
“Young workers are notably apprehensive about the lack of laws safeguarding interns, with some facing manipulation during probationary periods,” he said.
Despite the 2022 amendment to the Employment Act, Shahrizal stressed that youth involvement in policymaking regarding employment law and human resources policies should be increased.
“Youth are vulnerable to various forms of exploitation and manipulation in the workplace, underscoring the importance of their inclusion in policy discussions.
“Inadequate awareness of rights among young workers contributes to a power imbalance, with some individuals unaware of mistreatment by employers.
Surprised by the overwhelming response from the group's TikTok account, Shahrizal believed strongly in the group's work.
"My vision for Workers Unmuted extends beyond mere education to establishing it as a fully functional organisation that actively involves youth in advocating for reform in our country's human resources policies.
“Many young people are deprived of fair wages, safe working environments, and other fundamental rights as workers,” he opined.
He added that Workers Unmuted is supported by a grant from an NGO called the Architect of Diversity through their BinaxBangkit fund.
“The support provides financial assistance and equips us with invaluable knowledge to enhance our impact and operate more efficiently,” he added.
The group plans to expand on foreign workers’ issues with eight members working with him.
He said the group had previously published information graphics addressing the matter but is eager to do more.
"To advocate for the cause effectively, we recognise the importance of equipping ourselves with comprehensive knowledge.
"We are focused on acquiring the necessary expertise to amplify our advocacy efforts," he added.
While he is committed to his advocacy work, Shahrizal said he is just like other members of his generation and enjoys scrolling through social media.
“My hobbies include reading books, solo travelling around my city, and scrolling through social media like many other Gen Zers,” he added.
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