Break Syndicates to Fix Malaysia-Bound Recruitment

We welcome Malaysia’s decision to resume recruiting Bangladeshi workers, as it offers hope to thousands seeking better livelihoods abroad. However, reopening the labour market alone will not solve the problems that have long made overseas employment costly for our workers. Malaysia has recognised 338 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies, up from the previous 25, while Bangladesh hopes to send 10,000 workers at zero migration cost. These are welcome steps, but their success will depend on whether the government can prevent unscrupulous intermediaries from turning this opportunity into another costly ordeal for jobseekers.

The expansion of recognised agencies could open the door to greater competition. Yet questions remain about the role of the 25 private processing or service agencies that will continue to provide administrative support. The government must clarify how these agencies will work with other recruiters, how employers’ job orders will be distributed and whether all eligible agencies will have a fair chance to recruit workers. Simply adding more names to an approved list will not change the system if access to jobs remains concentrated in a few hands. We need clear rules that give genuine recruiters a fair opportunity and prevent anyone from using influence to control the process.

For workers, the stakes could hardly be higher. Many sell land, borrow money or use their life savings to secure jobs abroad. When recruitment costs rise beyond their means, they may spend years repaying debts instead of supporting their families. Their sacrifices also reduce the financial benefits that remittances bring to the country. Moreover, illegal charges put honest recruiters at a disadvantage and shut out deserving candidates who cannot afford to pay extra. Overseas employment should help families escape financial hardship, not push them deeper into debt before a worker earns a single wage.

Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) must work with law enforcement agencies to investigate collusion, trace suspicious payments and bring offenders to justice. Agencies found overcharging workers or submitting fraudulent job orders should face appropriate penalties, including licence cancellation. Meanwhile, the proposed recruitment of 10,000 workers through Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) must follow clear selection criteria, transparent job allocations and a publicly announced timetable. The government should also publish official fees, inspect recruitment practices regularly and provide workers with a straightforward way to report abuses.

We expect the government to make this reopening a turning point rather than another missed opportunity. Regular updates on recruitment costs, complaints and enforcement actions would help the public judge whether the reforms are working. More importantly, authorities must ensure that workers can secure overseas jobs without paying excessive fees or falling into crippling debt. The real measure of success is not how many agencies receive approval, but whether ordinary Bangladeshis can pursue work abroad without being exploited. Our workers deserve a fair chance to earn a living, support their families and return home with the rewards of their hard work.