Bangladesh is waiting to send skilled migrants workers to Malaysia a key destination for Bangladeshis. Migrant workers contribute to the Malaysia labour crisis and contribute to their economy in remittance flows for the country.
At least 475,500 Bangladeshis flew to Kuala Lumpur for overseas employment in just 22 months, according to data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET). The workers now get minimum pay of RM 1,500, overtime and other benefits as allowed under the labour law of Malaysia. They are now enjoy better benefits and facilities than Middle Eastern countries.
The last Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh and Malaysia mentioned recruiting workers through 25 agencies.
However, the number of agencies ultimately ballooned to 101. About 1,100 recruiting agencies empowered through the employer's power of attorney are actively involved in sending workers to Malaysia at the current stage. Industry insiders say are involved in manipulation and exploitation of migrants. Former ministers and secretaries of the two governments are responsible for all of this.
As the government of Malaysia introduced auto allocation system under the purview of a holistic online based system Foreign Workers Centralized Management System, there is hardly any problem being faced by the workers. These workers are getting salary and allowances through the bank and sending it as remittance to Bangladesh.
Rabiul Islam, the owner of a manpower organization in Purana Paltan, said that the workers who went to Malaysia expressed their satisfaction with the working environment there.
Almost all the workers are fine. Moreover, the relevant department of the Malaysian government has sincerely ensured all the rights and welfare of the workers as per the contract.
In those 22 months, foreign remittance flows to Bangladesh increased after a large number of workers joined work in Malaysia. Currently, Malaysia has moved from 8th to 4th place in terms of receiving foreign remittances in Bangladesh.
The data of Bangladesh Bank says that the amount of remittances received from Malaysia in August 2024 alone is 251.9 million US dollars.
A group of 358 workers have gone to Malaysia by Catharsis International which is considered as one of the most preferred destination for Bangladeshi workers, under 'Zero Cost Migration' programme.
The employers bear all the costs of such migration including expenses in Bangladesh and in Malaysia like passport, medical, visa, insurance, air ticket etc.
Despite getting emigration clearance, around 17,000 aspirant migrant workers could not fly to Malaysia before the May 31 deadline due to alleged mismanagement in the recruitment process.
At least 101 agencies has been placed responsibility. However, the dishonest officials of the ministry and the owners of the affiliated agencies have remained out of touch.
