Let the Malaysian labour market to reopen

When Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chose Malaysia for his first foreign visit, it was instantly clear how much importance the new BNP government attaches to the Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur relationship.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also extended a very warm welcome to his Bangladeshi counterpart.

Therefore, the main achievement of the Prime Minister’s visit to Malaysia will be to open up the labour market, which is very important for the Bangladeshi economy.

At the same time, the reasons for the repeated blocking of Bangladeshi workers’ access to the market must also be removed.

The importance of expatriate income in the economy of Bangladesh is immense. One of the main sources of foreign exchange for the country is remittances sent by workers working abroad.

In this reality, the Malaysian labour market holds special importance for Bangladesh.

During Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Malaysia, the issues of opening up the labor market, legalizing irregular workers, and simplifying the labour recruitment process were discussed with great importance. This is undoubtedly a positive development.

Malaysia has long been an important destination for Bangladeshi workers. A large number of Bangladeshi workers have been contributing to the country’s economy in the construction, manufacturing, service and agricultural sectors. At the same time, the remittances they send have also strengthened the rural economy of Bangladesh.

However, the reality is that in the last few years, various complications have arisen in the Malaysian labour market. Recruitment has been halted several times.

There has been uncertainty in the visa process. Many Bangladeshi workers have not received the promised opportunities despite going abroad at high cost. Some have fallen into legal complications. So, making this market stable is the need of the hour.

Tarique Rahman has urged the Malaysian Prime Minister to open the labour market quickly. This is a very important initiative. Increasing employment opportunities abroad is necessary for the national economy. More importantly, the labour recruitment process must be made transparent, fair and affordable.

If Bangladesh and Malaysia can jointly make the recruitment process transparent, then ordinary workers will benefit the most. Recruitment costs will decrease. Fraud will decrease.

Opportunities to send skilled workers will increase. Trust between the two countries will also be strengthened. This visit also discussed investment, trade, education, technology and skill development.

We believe that the Malaysian labour market is not just an employment area for Bangladesh. It is also deeply related to the country’s economic stability.

Therefore, expanding and protecting this market should be one of the government’s top priorities. The most important thing now is to translate the positive discussions into tangible results.