Govt fixes Malaysia migration cost at Tk1.54 lakh

The government has set the migration cost for Bangladeshi workers going to Malaysia at Tk 1,54,000 this year. At the same time, the government plans to publish the final list of approved medical centres for Malaysia-bound workers by next week. Separately, the state-owned BOESL is preparing to send 10,000 workers to Malaysia at zero migration cost.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury announced the fixed migration cost while speaking to journalists at the Expatriates’ Welfare Building in Dhaka on Thursday.

He said the government had set the cost at Tk 1,54,000 per worker for official recruitment to Malaysia.

The minister said workers would not have to face so many difficulties if recruitment costs remained within the government-set limit.

He also said the government would publish the final list of approved medical centres for Malaysia-bound workers within next week.

Meanwhile, the state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) has taken an initiative to send 10,000 Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia without any migration cost.

As part of the first phase, BOESL has started the recruitment process for 112 workers at DHL Supply Chain (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

BOESL Managing Director Mohammad Rashedul Haque said at a press briefing on Thursday that 300 candidates had been selected through an online lottery from 4,029 applicants.

The final 112 workers will be chosen after checking their job skills, practical abilities and suitability for the positions.

A nine-member team from Malaysia has arrived in Bangladesh to conduct practical tests and interviews. The selection process will continue from 12 to 15 November. The final decision will be made by the employer.

Rashedul said the Malaysian company would bear all government-approved migration costs for the selected workers. 

BOESL would not charge any migration fee or service charge from either the workers or the employer.

In addition, BOESL has received formal job demands for another 568 workers in Malaysia’s tourism, manufacturing and caregiving sectors.