Uncertainty grips stranded Malaysia-bound workers

Fear of losing their dream of migrating to Malaysia has pushed nearly 17,000 aspiring workers to the brink. Despite having deposited money and completed other necessary procedures, they are yet to receive demand letters from employers amid further increases in the cost of their journey.

Uncertain about whether they will be able to start work at their respective workplaces by the scheduled date of 31 December, several hundred of them staged a demonstration on a major road in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Sunday, lasting over an hour.

Malaysia has announced that, initially, 7,869 selected candidates will be recruited for the construction and tourism sectors. They will go through Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), the sole agency operating under the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

According to BOESL, interested candidates have been instructed to email a copy of their passport and a completed application form prescribed by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) of Malaysia. Following CIDB training and interviews, the final selection of workers for Malaysia will be confirmed.

However, officials report that not a single demand letter for sending workers has yet been received. As a result, there are concerns about completing all processes, including receiving the demand letter, post-training interviews, medical examinations, and flights, by 31 December.

A syndicate formed through collusion between dishonest individuals in both countries’ labour markets is also causing serious concern.

“Both the 100 agencies in Bangladesh listed to send workers to Malaysia and Malaysian employers do not want us to send workers. As a result, complications have arisen. Last year, despite spending millions of taka, these workers could not go. They have lost everything. This is not considered by these two groups, which makes sending workers difficult,” Md Shawkat Ali, executive director of BOESL, said.

Government now asks for additional cost of Tk162,000

Workers will now have to pay an additional Tk162,000, a heavy burden for them.

According to the new cost structure provided by BOESL, the medical examination fee has increased by Tk6,500, now standing at Tk10,000. Similarly, the service charge, previously Tk37,500, has doubled to Tk75,000. The CIDB training fee is Tk22,500, and attending the interview requires a further Tk10,000. Airfare has been set at approximately Tk45,000, which may rise further. These rising costs have caused considerable frustration among workers eager to travel.

BOESL’s executive director explained that the cost increase was necessary because the Malaysian government has augmented fees.

Training and interview made mandatory

BOESL stated that the Malaysian government intends to recruit workers for the construction sector. For this, CIDB training has been made mandatory. Workers will primarily be tested in three areas: bricklaying, plastering, and carpentry or shuttering.

Under the process, interviews will be conducted first. If selected, workers will then take the tests. Those who pass the examination will receive a certificate; those who fail will not be allowed to go.

Concerns remain regarding workers’ migration

Those involved in the labour market are raising concerns about how a significant number of selected workers will be able to depart within just four months. Questions remain over whether training, certification, interviews, medical examinations, and flights can all be completed by December. There is also uncertainty over receiving the demand letters for sending workers.

Stranded Malaysia-bound workers stage demonstrations

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets around 9:30am on Sunday, demanding immediate migration to Malaysia. Traffic on the key thoroughfare was brought to a standstill, leaving commuters stranded and causing widespread disruption.