Many workers in Senai โ whether from Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Rohingya community, or local workers from Sabah and Sarawak โ don't know where to turn when they face unpaid wages, document problems, workplace injuries, or difficulty getting food and healthcare. This article lists real organisations we verified through online research, not a guessed-at list.
Important note: Most organisations below operate at the Johor state or national level, not specifically headquartered in Senai itself โ we could not find an NGO based in Senai. We've stated each one's actual location clearly so you know the real distance from Senai before travelling there.
1. Tenaganita โ Migrant Worker Rights & Anti-Trafficking
Tenaganita is one of Malaysia's longest-running NGOs (since 1991), helping migrant workers, women, and refugees facing exploitation, discrimination, or human trafficking.
- Scope: National, headquartered in Petaling Jaya, Selangor (not Johor)
- Help provided: Migrant worker rights complaints, exploitation/trafficking case assistance, 24-hour emergency hotline
- Office phone: +603 7770 3671 / +603 7770 3691
- 24-hour emergency hotline: +6012 335 0512 / +6012 339 5350
- Email: general@tenaganita.net
- Website: tenaganita.net
- Read more: Full Tenaganita guide โ services, hotline, and when to contact them
2. Johor Bar Council Legal Aid Centre
If you need free legal advice โ tenancy disputes, wage claims, or a criminal matter โ this Legal Aid Centre is run by the Johore Bar Committee.
- Address: Tingkat 6, Mahkamah Sesyen & Majistret, Jalan Ayer Molek, 80888 Ibrahim International Business District, Johor Bahru
- Phone: 07-223 5698
- Help provided: Free legal advice (subject to a means test), representation for certain criminal and civil matters (excludes debt recovery and motor accident claims)
- Source: Johore Bar Committee (johorebar.org.my)
3. Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Johor Bahru (Labour Department) โ Wage & Worker Rights Complaints
This is a government department (not an NGO), but it's the right place for any unpaid-wage issue or employment contract violation.
- Address: Aras 3, Blok A, Wisma Persekutuan, Jalan Ayer Molek, 80888 Ibrahim International Business District, Johor Bahru
- Phone: 07-2275080 / 81 / 82
- Email: jtkbjahru@mohr.gov.my
- Help provided: Formal complaints for unpaid wages, overtime disputes, and Employment Act violations โ you can lodge a complaint in person, by letter, email, or the eAduan@JTKSM app
- Source: jtksm.mohr.gov.my
- Read more: Full JTK Johor Bahru guide โ step-by-step how to file a complaint
4. Caritas MJD (Diocese of Malacca-Johor) โ Humanitarian & Migrant Support
Caritas MJD (formerly the Migrant Ministry) provides welfare and pastoral support to migrant communities in Johor Bahru, regardless of religion.
- Address: Pusat Kasih Caritas, 9 Jalan Gereja, 80100 Johor Bahru
- Migrant Ministry contact: Fr. Aaron A. โ 016-217 4525
- Email: mjdohd@mjdiocese.my
- Help provided: Pastoral and welfare support for migrant workers and itinerant communities
- Source: caritasmjd.mjdiocese.my
5. Food Bank Johor (448 Food Bank Johor)
For workers facing a temporary financial squeeze who need basic food assistance.
- Address: 8, Jalan Seri Orkid 36, Taman Seri Orkid, 81300 Skudai, Johor
- Help provided: Distribution of basic food supplies to those in need around Johor Bahru and Skudai
- Phone: No public phone number verified at time of writing โ contact via Facebook @foodbankjohor
- Source: foodbank448.org, Facebook @foodbankjohor
6. Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia (National)
If 448 Food Bank Johor can't help directly, Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia runs a national free careline.
- Toll-free careline: 1700 813 446
- General enquiries: +60 12-996 0559
- Email: info@foodbankmalaysia.com
- Help provided: Referrals to the nearest food bank across Malaysia
- Source: foodbankmalaysia.org / yfbm.org
7. MERCY Malaysia โ Healthcare Support for Vulnerable Groups
MERCY Malaysia provides healthcare services, medical referrals, and psychosocial support for refugees and vulnerable groups, with activities that extend to the Johor Bahru area beyond the Klang Valley.
- Scope: National, with some programs run in Johor Bahru
- Help provided: Basic healthcare, medical referrals, counselling
- Phone: 03-2276 2116
- Website: mercy.org.my
8. North South Initiative (NSI) โ Migrant Worker Caseworkers
NSI helps migrant workers confidentially with employment, recruitment, and occupational health & safety issues, in 6 languages.
- Scope: National; we could not verify a dedicated Johor office
- Help provided: Confidential caseworker support for employment and migration issues
- Phone: +60 3-7663 5466
- Website: nsinitiative.net
What We Left Out
We searched specifically for a PERTIWI Soup Kitchen chapter in Johor Bahru but only found verified evidence of their operations in Kuala Lumpur โ so we did not include them as a Johor-based organisation. If you know of a real JB chapter, let us know and we'll update this article.
Quick Guide โ Who to Contact for What
- Unpaid wages / contract issues โ Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Johor Bahru
- Being scammed, exploited, or trafficked โ Tenaganita
- Need free legal advice โ Johor Bar Council Legal Aid Centre
- Need food urgently โ Food Bank Johor / Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia
- Need general welfare support โ Caritas MJD
Contact Us
As landlords renting rooms in Senai, we always try to help the workers who stay with us โ whether it's a room issue or you're not sure where else to turn. Don't hesitate to ask us first.
WhatsApp us at +60 12-708 8789 (https://wa.me/60127088789) if you need help finding a safe room in Senai or have any other questions.
