KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia may bypass the allegedly overly convoluted and monopolistic recruitment system for Bangladeshi workers and initiate a fast-track system, said industry insiders, following a meeting with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in Dhaka.
According to The Business Post, Saifuddin had expressed his dissatisfaction in the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers during his meeting with the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) delegation in the capital yesterday, sources said.
Meeting the delegation yesterday, Saifuddin addressed issues such as health screenings, auto-rotation for recruitment agencies, and the lack of e-Visa processing centres, which had contributed to the problems in bringing the workers to Malaysia.
With the proposed changes, the Malaysian government is looking to make the process similar to other source countries such as Nepal.
Through the fast-track system, Malaysia can bring up to 550,000 Bangladeshi workers to the country.
The meeting also saw the Baira leaders complain about various weaknesses in the current recruitment system, which are being compounded by monopolistic and corrupt practices.
The insiders told the Bangladeshi daily that Saifuddin had acknowledged the existence of graft in the system, adding that he said it should not happen to poor people.
Baira secretary-general Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman said Saifuddin was aware of the problems in the recruitment process, and was looking to discuss the matter with Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad in a meeting today.
“He will take necessary measures so that workers can work in that country through a much simpler and cheaper process,” Shameem was quoted as saying.
“So Bangladeshi workers can find work in Malaysia under the cheapest and fastest system possible.”
Monopolistic practices
The Business Post’s report also noted that the Malaysian Employment Facilitation Centre – controlled by Malaysia-based Bestinet owner Datuk Seri Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor – is controlling the recruitment process for Bangledeshis headed to the Southeast Asian country.
With the “faulty” auto-rotation system run by Bestinet, the recruiters said they would have to pay RM5,500 per worker as a service charge if a work order was given to another agency that may not be involved in the initial process.
The Malaysian government currently uses Bestinet’s Migrant Management System, which requires workers to spend about RM300 for a health screening and an additional RM100 to register with the system, although the costs were supposed to be borne by Malaysian employers.
Recently, Shameem told The Vibes that Malaysia’s plans to relax rules on the entry of Bangladeshi workers were a positive development, as many workers from his country had faced numerous hurdles to enter Malaysia to work legally.
On January 10, Saifuddin said employers will now be allowed to bring in migrant workers from 15 source countries based on their capability and need, without needing to fulfil the previously imposed conditions for hiring and quota qualification.
This temporary solution means that employers could obtain approvals as soon as three days from the submission of their application for the workers.
The relaxed rules come amid the entry of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia being monopolised by two power brokers, with calls growing for an open system that no longer limits the number of recruitment agencies.
Lately, stakeholders have urged the government to end the involvement of two “cartels” that rake in billions annually from forced labour and exploitation.
Despite the cartel leaders’ meetings with Anwar, the prime minister has ordered the Home Ministry and Human Resources Ministry to look into the allegations of human trafficking and slavery involving these individuals. – The Vibes, February 5, 2023
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