Unrest has arisen over recruiting manpower from Bangladesh to Malaysia, with stakeholders saying that the process is unjust.
The stakeholders blamed the Malaysian government's labour recruitment system for Bangladesh, a joint syndicate of recruiting agencies in Bangladesh and Malaysia, and air ticket syndicates of domestic and foreign airlines with high ticket prices as reasons behind their displeasure.
They believe that in the absence of regular government monitoring, workers have been harassed and cheated for years.
This year, the deadline for sending migrant workers to Malaysia was May 31. Thousands of Bangladeshi workers failed to go to Malaysia despite completing all official procedures, including visas and appointments.
Recruiting agencies took clearance for 893,642 workers from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET), and 476,642 of them made it to the country.
According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET), they have so far received information on 17,500 workers who could not go as the deadline ended.
A highly-placed source in the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment confirmed to Dhaka Tribune on Monday that a decision on sending workers will be taken at a joint meeting between the ministry and the Malaysian ambassador in Bangladesh to be held June 5.
The ministry will request the implementation of some recommendations at the meeting, the official added.
FM: Dhaka trying to extend Malaysian deadline of receiving workersAnother official said: "It will be ensured that those who have received visas and application forms can be sent to Malaysia. On the other hand, if the process is still incomplete, the government will provide legal assistance to them to recover their expenses."
Since Malaysia is still in need of workers, the ministry hopes that the joint working committee of the two countries will work to fix the issue.
According to Malaysiakini, a Malaysian news portal, the Malaysian cabinet agreed to extend the Foreign Worker Management System (FWCMS) for another three years after reviewing a proposal from the home ministry.
Regarding the matter, stakeholders hope that the issue will be resolved soon.
Stakeholders want unconditional TOR to send manpower
Sector specialists and leaders of manpower agencies have demanded a revision of manpower conditions and permission to use the same procedures as other countries.
Although 15 countries export manpower to Malaysia, employers directly recruit manpower from 14 countries, excluding Bangladesh.
Permission has been given to certain recruiting agencies to send workers from Bangladesh. As a result, the owners of recruiting agencies in both countries have reportedly taken bribes of at least Tk6 lakh to Tk10 lakh from migrant aspirants.
According to the BMET, around 100 agencies received permission to send manpower to Malaysia. The Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) has demanded open permission for all agencies so that migrant labour aspirants can choose any agency.
Leaders of manpower agencies raised the issue that not only Bangladeshi agencies but many agencies in Malaysia have hired manpower using fake employment letters. Victims of such fraud syndicates are living in inhumane conditions in Malaysia.
They also criticized statements by Malaysia's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, who said the Malaysian government cannot avoid the fact that some organizations operate beyond government control.
Former BAIRA secretary-general Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman said: "If there is any irregularity, how did Malaysia allow it? The recruitment system is managed by them."
On March 28, a UN expert team wrote to the governments of the two countries, urging measures to reduce the exploitation and suffering of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.
In response, Bangladesh said that the prescribed amount of money approved by the government is to be collected from the designated recruiting agencies for the migration fee. On the other hand, Malaysia assured that its government is committed to protecting the rights of migrant workers.
Can the syndicates be controlled?
Allegations have arisen of syndicates being formed to carry out huge irregularities in the business of sending manpower to Malaysia, involving billions of taka.
The names of four members of parliament came up in the allegations. They are Feni-3 member of parliament Lt. Col. Masud Uddin Chowdhury (retd), Dhaka-20 member of parliament Benjir Ahmed, MP AHM Mustafa Kamal, and MP Nizam Uddin Hazari.
Asked about the action against them, State Minister of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury said: "The probe committee will investigate everything. We know no lawmakers; we know recruiting agencies. If responsible, action will be taken."
He added: "We do not believe in syndicates. The country that will take workers wants to recruit manpower through the recruiting agencies of their choice; that is their matter. But the government wants all workers to go abroad."
Probe committee
The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has formed a six-member committee, headed by Additional Secretary (Employment) Noor Md Mahbubul Haq, to investigate corruption and irregularities in worker recruitment for the Malaysian labor market and to bring those responsible to justice.
The committee has been asked to report its findings within seven working days.
The committee will also work on compensating affected workers. Anyone can file a complaint with the probe body.
If a worker needs to pay more than Tk78,990, they can inform the committee. The probe body will also make recommendations on preventing such situations in the future, according to the committee.
Md Ruhul Amin, Secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, said no recruiting agency blacklisted by Malaysia received permission to send workers.
He further stated that migrant laborers who received clearance but could not go to Malaysia will get their money back, with BAIRA taking responsibility.
If the workers’ money is not returned, legal action will be taken, the secretary warned.
