Malaysia is one of the important labour markets for Bangladesh.
According to statistics provided by the Bangladesh Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), Malaysia ranks as the largest labour market after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. So far, about 1.5 million workers have gone to that country.
It is known that a formal agreement on manpower recruitment was signed between the two countries in 1992. But since the agreement, the Malaysian labour market has been closed to Bangladeshi workers at various times.
And the country finally stopped hiring workers from Bangladesh on May 31 last year. The reason for this was irregularities and syndicates.
However, this is not the first time that the Malaysian labor market has been closed due to irregularities and syndicates.
Earlier, in 2018, the Malaysian labour market was closed due to allegations of corruption involving 10 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies. After a long negotiation, the labour market was reopened in August 2022.
The number of agencies was gradually increased and 100 agencies were given responsibility. These 100 agencies were accused of corruption and irregularities in sending workers in groups. Malaysian labour market was closed to Bangladeshis again last year in the wake of allegations against this gang.
The Malaysian labour market was first closed in 2009, and was reopened at the end of 2016.
Everyone is more or less aware of the fraud committed by recruiting agencies and brokers in the name of sending workers to Malaysia. News related to this has often appeared in media.
Even those news stories have been published by naming people with facts and evidence. But no punitive action is ever taken against the accused. What is more worrying is that no proper investigation has been ensured to these syndicates to justice.
To reopen Malaysia’s labor market and prevent such situations in the future, it is essential to ensure an impartial investigation, and to bring those responsible to justice. The news of potential labour market closures due to allegations of corruption is a very disappointing matter. This is also a major crisis for the country’s economy.
In a country with a large population and increasing unemployment like Bangladesh, exporting manpower to Malaysia can be a big solution. With about 1.5 million Bangladeshis already contributing to Malaysia’s economy, this is a relationship that deserves careful nurturing.
Those involved in the investigation have also mentioned that the syndicate involved in the Malaysian manpower markets has looted billions of taka. They should be brought to book without further delay.
