Malaysia migration cost fixed at Tk1.54 lakh

The government has fixed the migration cost for Bangladeshi workers seeking employment in Malaysia at Tk1.54 lakh per person, amid concerns that recruitment expenses could rise to Tk2-3 lakh, placing additional financial pressure on aspiring migrant workers.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury on Thursday warned that action would be taken against recruiting agencies, brokers or individuals demanding more than the government-approved amount.

Speaking to journalists at the ministry in Dhaka, he said the prescribed cost must be followed to prevent workers from being exploited during the recruitment process.

“The government has fixed the migration cost at Tk1.54 lakh per worker for Malaysia. However, some stakeholders are suggesting that the total cost could range between Tk2 lakh and Tk3 lakh,” he said.

The minister said workers would not have faced such difficulties if recruitment expenses had remained within the government-prescribed limit. He also announced that the final list of approved medical centres would be published by next week.

Before Malaysia closed its labour market to Bangladeshi workers on 31 May 2024, the previous government had fixed the migration cost at around Tk79,000. The newly announced rate is almost double that amount.

Despite the earlier ceiling being below Tk1 lakh, recruiting agencies were accused of charging workers as much as Tk6.5 lakh to secure employment in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) has started preparations to send 10,000 workers to Malaysia without charging them migration costs.

Initially, the agency has begun recruitment procedures for 112 workers for DHL Supply Chain, a Malaysian company.

BOESL has so far received 568 demand letters from Malaysian employers and aims to complete the recruitment process and start sending workers before December.

BOESL Managing Director Mohammad Rashedul Haque disclosed the details at a press conference at the expatriates’ welfare ministry on Thursday, outlining the arrangements for recruiting and sending workers under the zero-cost initiative.

“We have received 568 demand letters so far. We aim to finalise the process before December. With DHL’s cooperation, we will be able to send the workers quickly. I want the process to begin before December,” he said, adding that unavoidable circumstances might cause a delay of a day or two.

Rashedul Haque said BOESL would not interfere in the selection process, as candidates chosen by the Malaysian employers would be considered final.

He said all migration-related expenses prescribed by the government would be borne by the Malaysian recruiting company. BOESL would not collect any migration cost or service charge from either the employers or the workers.
“Zero means zero,” he said.

Warning against exploitation, the BOESL managing director said legal action would be taken, subject to evidence, against brokers, middlemen and unauthorised individuals attempting to collect money at any stage of recruitment. Candidates involved in unethical financial transactions would also face action.

He urged prospective workers not to make any financial transactions in connection with the recruitment process.