Malaysia to recruit highest number of workers from BD: Asif NazrulMalaysian labour market beckons Bangladeshis once again

Malaysia is set to once again become a key destination for Bangladeshi workers as the Southeast Asian country will reopen its door for Bangladesh for the third time in the last 13 years.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul confirmed the matter through a video message from his official Facebook page on Thursday, following his meeting with Malaysian Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

"We have come to know from different sources that Malaysia may recruit 1,00,000-1,50,000 workers in the next couple of months. The Malaysian human resources minister has assured us that they will give utmost priority to the Bangladeshi workers and take a maximum number of workers from Bangladesh," he said.

Asif Nazrul said they have requested so that all recruiting agencies of Bangladesh are allowed to send workers, and in response, they said they would consider it seriously and convey their decision soon.

About the development of sending 17,000 workers who could not go to Malaysia even after completing all necessary formalities, the adviser said the Malaysian government will keep the promise made by its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to Bangladesh last year.

He said, "There were around 17,000 such workers. Based on that promise, we held many discussions. They have said these workers will be accepted in batches. As the first batch, Malaysia has finalised a list of 7,926 individuals, and they will be allowed to work in Malaysia very soon."

Asif Nazrul termed the possibility of getting multiple visas for Bangladeshi workers a significant development in the discussion.

He said when they requested the Malaysian home minister to address the issue that Bangladeshi workers only receive single-entry visas, while workers from other countries get multiple-entry ones, the minister instructed his ministry officials to take swift action in this regard, though he did not provide any direct assurance.

"I also requested that workers in Malaysia who have become undocumented be allowed to regularise their status. They said this is sometimes done - it was done last year. However, for those whose visas have expired, it may not be possible," the adviser said.

"I mentioned that in many cases, this happens due to negligence or errors on the part of the employers. I requested that such cases be considered separately. They have promised to look into it," he said.

Asif Nazrul added that they discussed a few more issues, such as the recruitment of security personnel, caregivers and nurses from Bangladesh.

"They showed interest in recruiting skilled workers, and our discussions will continue," he said, adding that Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is personally guiding them regarding the Malaysian labour market, and they are working according to his instructions.

Sources present at the meeting confirmed that Malaysia expressed its interest in recruiting around 1.2 million workers from 14 countries, including Bangladesh, and among them, more than 20,000 workers will be able to go at free of cost.

Migration sector insiders have appreciated the outcomes of the meeting and urged the government to change provisions of the current agreement to make it more inclusive.

"So far, we are satisfied with the results of the meeting. Our adviser has requested for offering the opportunity to send workers to all recruiting agencies as it can reduce migration costs. The Malaysian government has assured of considering this. We hope that our chief adviser, who is also a close friend of the Malaysian prime minister, will make sure this," Fakhrul Islam, former joint secretary general of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), told the Daily Sun.

He said the adviser has not made it clear whether there would be a new deal or the process will resume under the old agreement. Yet he expected that the remaining things will be settled in the upcoming meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG).

Besides, the former BAIRA leader proposed that the government create a data bank of all Malaysian aspirant Bangladeshi workers to make the whole process of sending workers smoother.

"If the government creates a data bank involving all Malaysian aspirant workers and sends lists of selected workers to particular agencies so that they deposit money in phases through Probashi Kallyan Bank, a discipline would be established," he added.

Fakhrul said the migration cost will decrease this time automatically if there are no syndicates and middlemen who have the opportunity to exploit workers.

Migration experts have expressed cautious optimism, keeping the past bitter experiences in mind.

Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) Chairman Shakirul Islam urged the government to remain watchful so that no incidents of corruption and irregularities are repeated in the process of migration.

"Though the adviser has not shared the details of the probable process, I am hopeful. And at the same time, I am cautious. Our past experiences are not good. We have to reduce the migration cost and look for options for sending workers at zero cost. If we really want to make sure this, we have to fill all the loopholes of syndication, irregularities and deception," he added.

"It's good to see that the Malaysian government is interested in taking a maximum number of workers from Bangladesh," the OKUP chairman said, adding that the government should examine how many Bangladeshi workers have returned from Malaysia after being unable to secure a job instead of concentrating on the quantity of workers.

The third meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) will be held on 21-22 May in Dhaka.

Over the past 16 years, Malaysia's labour market has been shut down three times. Every time, various allegations of syndication, irregularities, corruption and bribery have surfaced, but no agency owner involved in it has even been brought to book.

Some 8,98,970 Bangladeshis are currently working in Malaysia, according to official estimates. This is the highest number of foreign workers in the Southeast Asian country after Indonesians and Nepalis.

Malaysia is the fourth-highest remittance-sending country to Bangladesh.