The prolonged suspension of labour migration to Malaysia from Bangladesh may trigger a ripple of negative consequences—and if not addressed, these issues will only intensify, with long-term repercussions for our workforce, economy, and global standing.
Some of the negative impact on Bangladesh if unable to send workers to Malaysia legally. More Bangladeshi workers might attempt to migrate illegally, by using student visa, tourist visa etc. This increase the risks and potentially leading to exploitation. Irregular migration often exposes workers to dangers during their journey and in the destination country, where they may face exploitation from employers or intermediaries.
Illegal migration are often more dangerous and unpredictable, exposing workers to risks like trafficking, extortion, and abuse from smugglers or traffickers. Many workers will pay exorbitant fees to brokers and agencies, often leaving them in debt even before finding employment. Smuggling and trafficking cases will be rampant and this will cause Bangladesh to be downgraded in the US TIP Ranking. More families will fall into hardship and government will face more pressure to help these families.
Undocumented workers will live in constant fear of detection and deportation which can lead to significant psychological distress and social isolation.
Economic challenges such as:
One of the major source of income for Bangladesh comes from remittances sent home by Bangladeshi workers abroad, particularly in Malaysia. A halt to legal migration would severely reduce these remittances, impacting the country's economy. Illegal remittance will be on the rise due to this.
• A decrease in remittances would weaken the country’s financial position as this will cause a decline in Forex Reserves.
• The government may need to spend more at the end of the day for deported workers, workers who developed psychological distress or undocumented workers who died in Malaysia all due to illegal migration.
The government must paved the way for migrant workers to migrate legally and ethically. A strong mandate must be given to the manpower sector to follow the rules set by the government.
The writer is Human Resource Consultant, Expatriate Bangladeshi, DUBAI, UAE.
