Malaysia Labour Market Set to Reopen for Bangladeshi Workers
Malaysia’s labour market is set to reopen for Bangladeshi workers after a long suspension, raising hopes among workers and those involved in the migration sector. If preparations go as planned, the first batch of Bangladeshi workers could leave for Malaysia by the end of August. The Malaysian government has published a list of 25 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies authorised to recruit workers from Bangladesh. The list was published through Malaysia’s online Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS), signalling progress toward resuming recruitment.
The move has also raised concerns about the possible return of syndicates, which were blamed for irregularities in the previous recruitment process. Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said workers would be sent from Bangladesh through the state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), while all eligible recruiting agencies would have an opportunity to participate. He told the media, “The Malaysian government has its own list. We will send workers from here through Boesel. All the recruitment agencies on our list will get the opportunity to work in it. There is no hide and seek here.”
Md. Wahidur Rahman, managing director of Sea Millennium Trade (M) Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur, said Malaysia has strong demand for Bangladeshi workers in several sectors. Around seven lakh Bangladeshi workers are currently employed in Malaysia and contribute significantly to the country through remittances. The reopening process gained momentum after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to Malaysia in June.
Wahidur Rahman urged the government to ensure low migration costs and allow all legitimate recruiting agencies to participate in sending workers. Malaysia suspended recruitment from Bangladesh on June 1, 2024, following allegations of irregularities under the previous system. Critics have alleged that a syndicate involving agencies linked to former ministers and lawmakers controlled recruitment. Prime Minister’s Adviser and spokesperson Mahdi Amin said, “There is no opportunity to form a syndicate to send workers to Malaysia. Workers will be sent at low cost on the basis of transparency. This is the government’s commitment.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia has introduced a fully online system for foreign worker recruitment through FWCMS. The system is expected to improve transparency, efficiency and governance by eliminating manual applications at government offices. Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers President Jacob Lee Chor Kok said the success of the new system would depend on faster approvals, lower administrative and recruitment costs, and greater transparency for employers. He also welcomed the target of issuing Conditional Approval Letters within 14 days, while noting that the process still involves regulatory interviews and payment of recruitment levies.
