After a prolonged suspension, Malaysia has expressed its willingness to reopen its labor market to Bangladeshi workers, but has outlined three key conditions that Bangladesh must fulfill.
On Thursday (May 15), a high-level meeting was held in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia, between Malaysian ministers of Home Affairs and Human Resources and a Bangladeshi delegation. The delegation included Dr. Asif Nazrul, Advisor to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Lutfi Siddiqi, Special Envoy on International Relations to the Chief Advisor of the interim government. Also present were Senior Secretary Dr. Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan and Deputy Secretary Sarwar Alam.
Malaysia’s Three Main Conditions:
- Withdrawal of Alleged Harassment Cases:
Malaysia has raised concerns over what it calls “harassment cases” filed in Bangladesh against some recruiting agency owners, accusing them of human trafficking and money laundering. Malaysian authorities believe these cases undermine the transparency of their immigration system and tarnish the country’s global image. They have urged Bangladesh to resolve or withdraw these cases promptly. - Elimination of Associate Agency System:
To reduce migration costs and ensure greater protection for workers, Malaysia has called for the abolishment of the “associate agency” model, which often leads to inflated costs and increased risks of fraud. The system, according to Malaysian officials, contributes to exploitation and corruption in the recruitment process. - Ensuring Workers’ Safety and Fair Migration Costs:
Malaysia emphasized that migration expenses should be kept under BDT 200,000 (approx. USD 1,800) per worker to reduce the risk of exploitation. Lower costs not only ensure transparency but also help protect workers from being deceived or overcharged.
A New Window of Opportunity
Following the meeting, a policy-level decision was made in the presence of Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong. Under this new policy, Malaysia will recruit workers not only from Bangladesh but also from India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
Experts see this as a major opportunity for Bangladesh, as Malaysia plans to hire around 1.2 million foreign workers over the next few years. Wages in Malaysia for general laborers are typically double or more compared to those in Middle Eastern countries.
Officials at the Bangladeshi Embassy in Kuala Lumpur estimate that if Bangladesh can send workers efficiently under this renewed arrangement, the country could earn an additional USD 5 billion in remittances annually.
They stress that the priority should not be who sends the workers or which agency is involved, but rather ensuring a safe, low-cost, and transparent migration process for the workers—one that benefits both the migrants and the country’s economy.
