First free worker flights to Malaysia expected in December: Minister

The first few flights carrying Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia free of charge are expected to begin in December, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said.

He made the remarks at an exchange meeting with representatives of recruiting agencies enlisted under the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) for sending workers to Malaysia at the Probashi Kallyan Bhaban in Eskaton, Dhaka, on Thursday.

He said December is the month of victory and the government wants to launch the initiative with the first two or three free worker flights during the month. Recruitment based on other demand letters will also continue.

Under the new system, workers will not have to pay any money to go abroad. Foreign employers or their recruiting agencies will bear the recruitment and migration costs. Some service charges for recruiting agencies in Bangladesh have also been waived to simplify the process.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the government did not want to restrict recruitment business to a handful of agencies. The ministry is working to ensure that all legitimate recruiting agencies in the country have equal opportunities. He expressed hope that a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed by December 31.

He said foreign employers would have to submit demand letters online to ensure transparency in recruiting workers for Malaysia. The documents must also be attested by the human resources ministry of the respective country. Recruiting agencies will have to submit undertakings to the ministry confirming job guarantees from employers.

The minister said the government planned to establish separate support cells in destination countries to help workers resolve their problems after migration. Initiatives are being taken to ensure that Bangladeshi workers receive necessary services and are not harassed in countries including Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

Regarding medical examination fees, he said the fee for workers travelling to Malaysia had been fixed at Tk 8,000. No additional amount could be charged. If evidence of collecting fees beyond the prescribed amount is found, action, including cancellation of licences, will be taken against those responsible.

Addressing recruiting agency owners, the minister said the sector must be transformed into a dignified and respectable business. Everyone must remain alert so that irregularities by a few individuals do not bring the entire sector into disrepute.

He urged them to consider not only business interests but also employment generation and increased remittances for the country.

He also said, workers must be made aware of the laws and regulations of their destination countries. Irresponsible activities on social media could damage visa and employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers abroad.

State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Haque, Gazipur-5 MP AKM Fazlul Haque Milon, relevant ministry officials and representatives of recruiting agencies were present at the meeting.

-MT