KUALA LUMPUR – Poor Bangladeshi migrant workers will not be required to spend any money (zero migration cost) to enter Malaysia, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin.
According to Bangladesh’s The Business Standard, Malaysia is opening its doors to more migrant Bangladeshi workers despite the ongoing debate over labour recruitment syndication in the country.
The report stated that Zuraida had spoken about the matter during a discussion with Bangladesh International Recruiting Agency (Baira) former president Mohammed Noor Ali last Saturday.
During the meeting, Baira urged Zuraida to allow all licensed Bangladeshi recruitment agencies to send workers to Malaysia.
The government had in December signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.
The MoU, which was signed by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and Bangladesh’s Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad aims to meet the demands of worker shortages in Malaysia, in sectors such as plantation, agriculture, manufacturing, services, mining and quarrying, construction, and domestic service.
Despite Saravanan’s claims of a syndicate involving 25 Bangladeshi agents and 250 subagents, Baira leaders stated that they are ready to meet the demands for migrant workers in Malaysian companies via a letter issued by Imran to his Malaysian counterpart on January 18.
Baira has urged for all licensed recruiting agencies from Bangladesh to be authorised to send migrant employees to Malaysia.
Additionally, Zuraida said the ministry will make certain that the welfare, salary, accommodation, health and other crucial facilities required by migrant workers of Bangladesh will follow guidelines set by the International Labour Organisation (IPO). – The Vibes, February 28, 2022
