Malaysia has expressed its willingness to reopen its labour market to Bangladeshi workers, subject to the fulfillment of several key conditions.
On Thursday, a high-level bilateral meeting was held in Putrajaya between Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim Chee Keong and a delegation from Bangladesh led by Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser to Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Dr. Nazrul was accompanied by Dr. Neamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary of the ministry, Deputy Secretary Sarwar Alam and Chief Advisor’s Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfi Siddiqi, who played a crucial role in representing Bangladesh’s interests during the discussion.
Key Conditions from MalaysiaAmong the primary conditions set forth by Malaysian government is the withdrawal or resolution of sensitive legal cases filed in Bangladesh against business representatives of 100 recruitment agencies previously approved by Malaysia. These cases; centered on allegations of human trafficking and money laundering, have raised concerns over the transparency and credibility of the overall migration system of Malaysia.
However, Malaysian officials have pointed out that over 476,000 workers have legally migrated to Malaysia between August 2022 and May 2024, following a fully digital and policy-compliant immigration procedure—making allegations of trafficking largely unfounded.
Malaysia has insisted that resolving these legal issues promptly is critical to restoring trust in the labour migration system.
Focus on Fair Costs and Worker SafetyMalaysia also emphasized the importance of ensuring low migration costs, eliminating the associate agency (associate bearer) system and prioritizing worker safety and rights. Officials noted that excessive recruitment fees often open the door to commercial exploitation. By capping the migration cost to below BDT 200,000 (approx. USD 1,800), workers would be less likely to face fraud and abuse.
Bilateral Agreement SignedFollowing the meeting, a bilateral agreement on labour migration was signed in the presence of both Malaysian ministers. Under this agreement, Malaysia will recruit workers not only from Bangladesh but also from India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
Labour market analysts welcomed the move and stressed that a transparent, fair, and affordable recruitment process would benefit both countries. They also called for the elimination of the associate agency model, which tends to increase costs unnecessarily.
A Major Opportunity for BangladeshMalaysia is projected to recruit approximately 1.2 million foreign workers over the next few years. Experts highlight that average wages for general labourers in Malaysia are at least double those in many Middle Eastern countries, making it an attractive destination for Bangladeshi workers.
After nearly a year of administrative delays, the reopening of this massive labour market is expected to significantly boost Bangladesh’s remittance inflows.
Officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in Kuala Lumpur stated that if Bangladesh can successfully send workers under the new framework, the country could earn up to $5 billion in additional remittance annually.
“The focus shouldn’t be on which agency is sending workers,” said an embassy official. “What matters most is ensuring that migration is low-cost, safe, and transparent. We are optimistic that a well-regulated system will provide Bangladeshi workers with a secure pathway to Malaysia.”
SH
