Malaysia job market to reopen in late August

Bangladesh and Malaysia have agreed to move forward with reopening the Malaysian labour market for Bangladeshi workers, with both governments aiming to resume recruitment and deployment from the last week of August following a series of high-level bilateral meetings in Kuala Lumpur.

Speaking at a press conference at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Mahdi Amin said the two countries had reached a policy-level understanding on the key issues needed to restart the recruitment process and had begun implementing the agreed measures.

He said discussions between the relevant ministries and government agencies of both countries had produced positive outcomes, paving the way for the reopening of one of Bangladesh's largest overseas labour markets.

"If all preparations are completed according to the agreed timeline, Bangladesh expects to begin sending workers to Malaysia from the last week of August," Dr Amin said.

He said the government was committed to establishing a transparent, fair and worker-friendly recruitment system to ensure accountability in worker selection while keeping migration costs affordable.

The new framework, he added, is intended to eliminate irregularities and provide equal opportunities for eligible workers seeking employment in Malaysia.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, who accompanied the adviser during the visit, said both countries were working closely to complete the remaining institutional and administrative procedures required to reopen the labour market.

He said Bangladesh and Malaysia had agreed to strengthen cooperation on labour migration management and expedite the implementation of agreed mechanisms to ensure smooth recruitment.