Efforts Underway to Resume Malaysia Worker Recruitment by August: Mahdi

Bangla Press Desk:  Prime Minister's Adviser and PMO spokesperson Mahdi Amin has announced that Bangladesh and Malaysia have reached a policy-level agreement to reopen the Malaysian labour market for Bangladeshi workers, with the first batch of workers expected to begin arriving by the last week of August, subject to the completion of formal procedures.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Mahdi said both governments had held extensive discussions over the past two days and agreed to move forward with a new, transparent, and modern recruitment process aimed at reducing migration costs and expanding employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers.

He said the reopening of the labour market was discussed with Malaysia's human resources minister, senior ministry officials, and other stakeholders, with Bangladesh's national interest serving as the guiding principle throughout the negotiations.

"We are pleased to announce that both countries have agreed in principle to reopen the labour market immediately. Our goal is to ensure that Bangladeshi workers can return to Malaysia through a transparent process with lower migration costs and greater opportunities across all sectors," Mahdi said.

According to him, Bangladesh has requested that the initial phase of recruitment be handled through the state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), while priority will be given to ensuring skilled migration and minimizing recruitment expenses.

Mahdi said Malaysia will continue to determine the final number of recruiting agencies under the existing memorandum of understanding (MoU), which remains valid until December 2026. Bangladesh has requested that the maximum possible number of qualified recruiting agencies be included, reflecting the country's position as one of Malaysia's largest sources of migrant workers.

He also said the Bangladesh government has informed Malaysia that agencies and individuals previously implicated in corruption, unethical practices, or recruitment syndicates have had their licenses cancelled and will not be included in the new recruitment process.

"The message to Malaysia is clear–those involved in corruption or irregularities will have no place in the new system," he said.

Highlighting the broader Bangladesh-Malaysia relationship, Mahdi described the ties as historic and multidimensional, encompassing trade, investment, technology transfer, education, healthcare, culture, and people-to-people connectivity.

He said both governments are working to deepen strategic cooperation while encouraging greater Malaysian investment in Bangladesh. Discussions have also covered expanding the operations of existing Malaysian investors, including Axiata, cooperation with MMC Ports, and the possibility of gas supplies from Petronas to help address Bangladesh's energy needs.

Mahdi noted that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently held productive bilateral talks covering these issues, including energy cooperation.

Describing Bangladeshi migrant workers as a cornerstone of bilateral relations, Mahdi said their contributions have supported Malaysia's economic development while their remittances continue to play a vital role in Bangladesh's economy. He noted that although the interim government had attempted to reopen the labour market, it had remained closed until now.

The adviser urged prospective migrant workers to remain patient and follow official procedures, warning them against fraudulent brokers and illegal recruitment networks.

"We often see dishonest middlemen exploiting people through false promises. After returning to Bangladesh, we will work with law enforcement agencies to prevent such fraud and protect migrant workers," he said.He added that technical-level cooperation between the two governments will begin shortly, involving the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka, and the respective ministries responsible for labour and overseas employment.

Mahdi thanked the Malaysian government, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the human resources ministry, and other officials for their cooperation in advancing the reopening process.

He said the Bangladesh High Commission has already been instructed to strengthen migrant-friendly services so that it becomes a trusted institution for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

Concluding the briefing, Mahdi said the government remains committed to safeguarding the interests of expatriate Bangladeshis and expressed confidence that reopening the labour market would create new employment opportunities and contribute significantly to Bangladesh's long-term economic development.