Bangladesh Should Meticulously Plan to Send Workers to Malaysia

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Bangladesh should meticulously plan the deployment of workers to Malaysia by closely examining the labour market in the Southeast Asian country, said some migration specialists and leaders of BAIRA.

Bangladesh and Malaysia should work together to determine the actual demand in the labour market in Southeast Asia. In the past, some unscrupulous manpower exporters resorted to unethical practices and exploited workers during the recruitment process, said an official of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).

Malaysia imposed a ban on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in June 2024, citing a saturated labour market in the region.

According to BMET data, Bangladesh exported a total of 2,140 workers to Malaysia during the June–December period of 2024. (Note: this number is repeated in the next sentence.

During the Awami League’s tenure, some members of a syndicate allegedly made millions of dollars by exploiting thousands of workers with the connivance of certain political high-ups, sources said.

The interim government should reduce migration costs by dismantling the syndicate, said a BAIRA leader.

The migration costs for Indian, Nepalese, Sri Lankan, and Pakistani workers are reportedly half that of Bangladeshi workers, said a BMET official.

Labour migration is one of Bangladesh’s most important industries but often involves fees that leave workers saddled with debt and vulnerable to abuse abroad.

Malaysia is a major destination. More than one million Bangladeshis have migrated there over the past two decades, with at least 945,000 living in the country as of October 2024, according to government figures. Human rights activists have documented numerous cases of Bangladeshi and other migrant workers facing abuse, including debt bondage, reported a leading Malaysian English daily.

These issues have affected Malaysia’s human trafficking record. For over a decade, the US has stated that the country does not meet the standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. In eight of the last ten years, the US has said Malaysia has either failed to make significant efforts to improve or that its efforts have been insufficient.

A low TIP (Trafficking in Persons) ranking can restrict a country from accessing US foreign assistance funding. It may also face opposition from US representatives at the International Monetary Fund and other multilateral institutions when seeking loans.

Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister, Steven Sim, stated in Kuala Lumpur that the recruitment of foreign workers must be based on actual sectoral needs, not driven by business interests or profit motives.

This statement, issued by the Human Resources Ministry on Friday (May 16), followed Sim’s courtesy meeting on Thursday (May 15) with Dr Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh, and Lutfey Siddiqi, Bangladesh’s Special Envoy for International Affairs.

According to the ministry, Malaysia and Bangladesh agreed to strengthen technical coordination for labour management through the Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting.

"The next JWG meeting is scheduled to take place on May 21 and 22 in Dhaka," the statement added.

During the meeting, Malaysia also shared its long-term strategy to reduce dependence on foreign workers.

The ministry stated that the government was in the process of implementing a multi-tier levy system aimed at encouraging the hiring of local workers and fostering a more sustainable and competitive labour market.

Meanwhile, the ministry expressed appreciation to the Bangladeshi government for recognising Malaysia’s efforts in tackling abuse and misconduct in labour management.

"During the meeting, Bangladesh also confirmed that Malaysia was not involved in any of the alleged misconduct previously raised and expressed their support for Malaysia’s firm and principled stance on the issue of human trafficking," the statement added, according to Bernama.

Malaysia has also asked Bangladesh to review and withdraw “unsubstantiated allegations” of wrongdoing in labour migration to improve Malaysia’s standing in an annual US human trafficking report.

“Allegations of human trafficking and money laundering – largely unsubstantiated – have impacted Malaysia’s reputation,” wrote Azman Yusof, secretary-general of the Human Resources Ministry, in a letter dated April 23.

Bloomberg News reviewed a copy of the letter, which was sent to Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. An official familiar with the letter confirmed its authenticity.

The two governments are in talks to restart recruitment of Bangladeshi workers by Malaysian companies. Malaysia halted all such recruitment a year ago after reports surfaced that many workers did not receive the jobs they were promised, despite paying hefty fees—prompting criticism from the United Nations.

Since then, both the Bangladesh Police and the Anti-Corruption Commission have opened investigations into recruitment-related issues.

Azman asked Neyamat to review all pending allegations and withdraw those without merit to help preserve and improve Malaysia’s TIP rankings, as assessed by the US State Department.

“In addition, we request to prevent the revival of dismissed cases through a formal mechanism,” Azman wrote.

Neyamat and Asif Nazrul, who is part of the Bangladesh Cabinet and oversees the Expatriates' Ministry, both declined to comment on the letter. A representative from Malaysia’s Human Resources Ministry also did not respond to a request for comment. It is unclear whether Bangladesh has responded to the letter.

The letter was sent just weeks ahead of high-level meetings between Malaysian and Bangladeshi officials to discuss recruitment. Neyamat and Asif are scheduled to meet Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim in Putrajaya on Thursday.

Labour migration is one of Bangladesh’s most important sectors, though it often burdens workers with debt and exposes them to exploitation.

Malaysia has been a major destination, with more than one million Bangladeshis working there in the last 20 years. As of October 2024, approximately 945,000 Bangladeshis were residing in the country. Many human rights organisations have documented cases of abuse, including debt bondage, involving both Bangladeshi and other migrant workers.

These abuses have negatively impacted Malaysia’s international image and its standing in human trafficking reports.

Last year, Bangladesh began investigations into irregularities in labour migration. In October, the Bangladesh Police requested the Malaysian government to arrest and extradite two businessmen as part of a probe into alleged money laundering, extortion, and human trafficking.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission is also investigating a group of recruiting agency owners and former lawmakers on embezzlement charges related to worker migration to Malaysia, according to local media.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Adviser on Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, said Malaysia has agreed in principle to recruit a large number of Bangladeshi workers in the near future.

"Malaysia has agreed in principle to recruit a significant number of workers from Bangladesh and has also assured proper wages, safety, and overall welfare of the workers," Asif said in a post on his verified Facebook page.

Asif, who is also the Youth and Sports Adviser, said this decision came after a recent meeting between Dr Asif Nazrul and senior Malaysian Human Resources Ministry officials in Putrajaya.

Two key issues discussed were the assurance of proper wages and benefits for current Bangladeshi workers, and the development of a transparent and balanced framework for future recruitment.

Meanwhile, a group of Bangladeshi migrant workers have filed a lawsuit against a recruitment company and the Malaysian government after being left jobless in Malaysia due to an alleged job scam.

The 33 workers are seeking a court declaration that they were victims of human trafficking and fraud.

In their statement of claim, they are demanding RM1.71 million in compensation—comprising RM25,000 each in recruitment fees and RM27,000 in lost salary (based on RM1,500 per month from October 2023 to March 2025). They are also seeking continued salary payments until the case is resolved.

The workers are asking for additional compensation from the government, a declaration of negligence by the authorities, and a court order to prevent their detention by immigration authorities during the proceedings.

They said they were promised construction jobs in Malaysia, and the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur had assured them of the job offers’ authenticity.

The workers claimed they paid around RM25,000 each for quota approvals, levies, temporary work passes, health checks, and agent commissions—costs that, they later discovered, were supposed to be borne by the employer.

They said they arrived between June and October 2023 but were left jobless. Their travel documents were confiscated, and they were housed in dormitories in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, reportedly owned by the company.

They later realised the job offers were not genuine and spent months in the dormitories with only basic supplies to cook for themselves.

They lodged a complaint with migrant rights group Tenaganita, prompting an investigation by the labour department, according to the law firm Saleh & Aizac, which filed the suit in the Shah Alam High Court in March.

Defendants in the suit include Meranti Binamas Sdn Bhd, the secretary-general of the Human Resources Ministry, the director-general of immigration, and the government.