Intercultural Competence and Social Inclusion among Migrant Workers: A Conceptual Framework

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-756-4_14How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Intercultural competence; workplace; social inclusion; migrant workers; Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia presents a compelling context for research on migrant workers, given its significant role as a major destination for migrant labor in Southeast Asia. The country currently hosts approximately three million documented migrant workers, making it one of the largest migrant-receiving nations in the region. These workers contribute substantially to Malaysia’s economic growth, yet they often face challenges related to cultural differences, which can lead to social exclusion within the host society. This reality underscores the urgent need to examine the role of intercultural competence and social inclusion among migrant workers, particularly within workplace settings in Malaysia. This paper draws on Deardorff’s (2006) model of intercultural competence and Allport’s (1954) Intergroup Contact Theory to propose a conceptual framework for research. This framework integrates both theoretical perspectives to explore the dynamics of intercultural competence and workplace social inclusion among migrant workers in Malaysia. By applying this framework, the paper aims to offer insights into how intercultural competence can be enhanced, leading to more inclusive workplace environments. The proposed framework also has the potential to inform the development of training programs specifically designed to improve intercultural competence and social inclusion among migrant workers. Such programs could play a critical role in fostering a more inclusive and harmonious work environment, ultimately benefiting not only migrant workers but also the broader Malaysian society by promoting social cohesion and reducing instances of exclusion.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Syarizan Dalib
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/05/29
TI  - Intercultural Competence and Social Inclusion among Migrant Workers: A Conceptual Framework
BT  - Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Communication and Media (i-COME 24)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 137
EP  - 144
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-756-4_14
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-756-4_14
ID  - Dalib2025
ER  -