Special Correspondent :
A coalition of registered recruiting agencies under the banner of BAIRA (Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies) has issued a strong statement ahead of the upcoming Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between Malaysia and Bangladesh, scheduled for May 21.
The members are demanding a fair and open labor recruitment process, calling for the dismantling of the current syndicate system that restricts labor migration to Malaysia.
In a press statement on Tuesday BAIRA leaders, including senior figures from across the sector, voiced serious concerns over the monopolistic practices maintained through a government-imposed syndicate. They argued that this system undermines the principles of fair competition and restricts opportunities for both recruiting agencies and aspiring migrant workers.
The group emphasized four key demands:
Non-Discrimination: Recruiting agencies must not be excluded arbitrarily from the labor migration process. The current syndicate, they said, limits participation and contradicts free market principles.
Transparency and Rule of Law: The JWG should ensure that recruitment practices align with Malaysian immigration law, particularly clause 28(G)(c)-(v), which prohibits exclusive practices. They stressed the need for open access to the recruitment process by all licensed agencies. Equal Opportunity: The system should allow all competent agencies to participate, ensuring that no single group monopolizes access to labor migration. This would help reduce costs and ensure better services for migrant workers.
Accountability and Oversight: The BAIRA members called for transparency in government decision-making and better oversight mechanisms to protect the interests of all stakeholders, including migrants.
BAIRA further urged the Joint Working Group to adopt a truly representative and inclusive framework that reflects the voices of all legitimate agencies, ensuring that labor migration from Bangladesh to Malaysia operates under fair, ethical, and transparent conditions. The statement concluded by reiterating that monopolistic recruitment practices not only hurt the industry but also expose migrant workers to potential abuse and exploitation.
They expressed hope that the upcoming JWG meeting would pave the way for reform and restore credibility to the overseas employment sector.
Speaking to The New Nation, former BAIRA Joint Secretary General Fakhrul Islam said, “For the past 15 years, a syndicate has held the labor market hostage. We want to break this syndicate. We want to send workers to Malaysia at the government-approved rate.”
BAIRA leaders expressed hope that the upcoming JWG meeting would take concrete steps to restore credibility and fairness in labor migration practices between the two countries.
