BD workers` recruitment suspended

SM Mizanur Rahman :Within a span of 24 hours, the Malaysian government on Friday backtracked from its decision of recruiting foreign workers and made its stand clear that recruitment of all foreign workers including Bangladesh had been suspended.  “The Government has decided to suspend the recruitment of all foreign workers to Malaysia, including those from Bangladesh. We urge our employers to recruit local workers,” says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.He came up with his government decision after meeting Army personnel at Kem Muara Tuang in capital Kuala Lumpur of the country, according to Malaysian state-owned agency Bernama, portal newspaper The Star Online and Malaysian Insider.com.Earlier on Thursday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh and Malaysia about recruitment of 15 lakh Bangladeshi workers for the country under the government to government plus (G2G plus) agreement.Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister of Bangladesh Nurul Islam B.Sc andHuman Resources Minister of Malaysia Dato Seri Richard Riot signed the MoU on behalf of their respective countries at a ceremony in the Ministry on Thursday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also hoped that the MoU signed between Bangladesh and Malaysia on manpower recruitment will open up the new door of cooperation between the two countries. Zahid Hamidi, also the Malaysian Home Minister said the suspension would be in place while the Government reviewed the two-tier levy programme for foreign workers.He added that existing illegal workers in Malaysia would be detained and deported.The decision will remain in force until the Southeast Asian country ascertains the actual manpower needs of industries.”Foreign workers without valid documents or have overstayed in the country will be arrested and sent back to their country of origin,” said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.He said the decision of suspension came after a thorough consideration, while the government would also review recent changes in the levy system on foreign workers. Zahid said that the suspension would be in place as the Malaysian government will review the two-tier levy programme for foreign workers. The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister also said the government would focus on the foreign workers rehiring programme and step up enforcement to ensure that no more foreigners enter the country as workers.Zahid said the enforcement against illegal foreign workers would be stepped up and implemented on a large scale in the country.He said it was expected that Malaysians, especially youths, would respond to the government call for local people to take up the jobs now held by foreigners and become the mainstay of the nation’s workforce to drive National Economic growth.”The suspension will be in force until the government is satisfied with the manpower needs of the industries,” he said.On February 8, the Cabinet approved the draft of a MoU with Malaysia with a target of sending 15 lakh (1.5 million) Bangladeshi workers there in three years while the Malaysian cabinet approved the MoU on December 20, 2015.Earlier on 2009, the Malaysian government postponed recruitment of Bangladeshi workers because of several irregularities and corruption in the recruiting process. In 2012, Bangladesh and Malaysia signed a MoU under G2G agreement in order to restart the recruitment process and in 2014 both countries signed a protocol under the MoU.As of December last year, there are 2,135,035 documented foreign workers in Malaysia, of which 282,287 are from Bangladesh.