Bangladesh and Malaysia are going to hold an advisory-level meeting on May 15, where reopening Malaysia’s labour market for Bangladeshi workers is expected to be discussed positively.
Centering the meeting, Expatriates' Welfare adviser Asif Nazrul and senior secretary Dr Neamat Ullah Bhuiyan will visit Malaysia on May 14.
Their discussions will focus on reopening the Malaysian labour market for Bangladeshi workers.
When contacted, deputy secretary of the ministry, Md Sarwar Alam, said, "We will discuss the reopening of the labour market with them. Any such agreement must be based on the laws and regulations of both countries. We will listen to the conditions Malaysia, as a receiving country, sets, and present our case as a sending country. We also have a Joint Working Group meeting on May 21, where these matters will be reviewed."
“We are highly optimistic. Hope to bring back good news about the labour market from this visit,” he further added.
Bangladesh government always follow the system of all labour Receiving countries like Malaysia.
Ordinary members of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) has welcomed this development, who have expressed gratitude to the Advisor and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment for reviving negotiations.
"We must stop the toxic habit of filing harassing lawsuits against each other," said BAIRA members
Malaysia plans to recruit about 1.2 million workers from source countries in the coming years, which presents a significant opportunity for Bangladeshi workers. The average salary for general workers in Malaysia is nearly double or more than in many Middle Eastern countries.
Although this vast market is entangled in syndicate and anti-syndicate controversies, the complexities are slowly resolving. Legal avenues are opening for the migration of hundreds of thousands of workers to Malaysia. If this market reopens and workers can migrate legally, both the country and migrant workers will greatly benefit.
Several leaders from the BAIRA told the daily observer that excessive complications are being created by focusing on which agencies are doing business or not. Many are getting unnecessarily involved. Instead of prioritizing the business interests of individual agencies, both governments should focus on regulations and, more importantly, on worker protection and welfare. This will benefit the country and increase remittance inflow.
Experts point out that the government or ministry, as regulatory authorities, cannot bring business or contracts for agencies. Some recruiting agencies, unable to compete, create chaos at the ministry by viewing the government as weak. It is not the ministry’s job—neither in Bangladesh nor in any other country—to secure jobs for agencies. Agencies must secure contracts on their own, and the government will authorize those who do.
However, a certain group of businesspeople, without traveling abroad, securing jobs, or developing infrastructure, are creating movements, holding press conferences, and issuing statements—all while blaming others. Following the "July revolution" within BAIRA, legal disputes began. In some cases, sections of recruiters have filed cases against others by misleading the government, and some government bodies have filed suo moto cases based on various allegations. This wave of lawsuits is severely harming
Bangladesh’s labour market, not just with Malaysia but globally.
Stakeholders warn that receiving countries are closely monitoring these internal developments in Bangladesh. Frequent human trafficking cases, even against legal migration, are damaging the country's image. If this culture of litigation continues, it will become a significant obstacle to reopening foreign labour markets.
Recruiters also note that it is impossible for the government to satisfy all 2,000 licensed agencies. Some accuse the older agencies of monopolizing the market. Others, who supported supply chains and marketing efforts, feel sidelined. New agencies with little experience or capacity express frustration over not being able to enter the business. These divisions and grievances are harming the unity of the sector.
If such internal conflict persists, the labour market may never reopen—and without an open market, no agency will be able to send workers. However, if the market does reopen, some agencies will send workers directly while others will benefit as associates. The country and its workers will benefit from low-cost, legal migration. This priority must be clearly recognized. Unfortunately, the country has repeatedly failed to do so—hurting remittances and our global standing.
Following the visit of advisor on expatriates’ welfare, along with the ministry's secretary and top officialsthis, a third Joint Working Group meeting on safe migration and employment will be held in Dhaka on May 21–22. In that meeting, the possibility of sending around 1.2 million workers to Malaysia over the next six years may be finalized.
Given the circumstances, stakeholders urge all parties to remain patient and cooperative. The focus now should be on assisting the interim government, led by Dr. Yunus, to ensure the reopening of the Malaysian labour market.
BAIRA’s secretary general, freedom fighter Ali Haider Chowdhury, told the daily observer , "It’s essential to prioritize the regulations of both countries, safeguard the interests of our workers and ensure low-cost, safe migration. It’s not about which agency gets business—it’s about reopening the labour market and making migration safer and more affordable for our people."
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