Malaysia agreed in principle to recruit 10,000 Bangladeshi workers at zero cost following a special request from Bangladesh, as the government announced the launch of a new recruitment process involving 338 approved agencies.
The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment announced the development in a press release on Thursday, saying eligible workers could seek employment in Malaysia through the approved recruiting agencies and undergo medical examinations at authorised centres.
The 338 approved agencies comprise the state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), 25 private processing and service agencies, and 312 recruiting agencies.
Under the arrangement, the recruiting agencies will be able to identify employers in Malaysia, collect job orders, select workers in Bangladesh and conduct recruitment activities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
BOESL and the 25 processing and service agencies will assist with administrative procedures involving Malaysian authorities, including visa calls, e-visas and other required formalities. The recruiting agencies will then complete the remaining procedures in Bangladesh, including obtaining clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
Each approved recruiting agency will be able to obtain BMET clearance for workers recruited under its own licence, the ministry said.
The government said the arrangement would broaden participation among eligible agencies, promote competition and transparency, and protect workers from excessive migration costs.
Workers will be able to undergo medical examinations at authorised centres, with no single centre given exclusive authority to conduct the tests.
The final list of approved medical centres is being prepared under an existing memorandum of understanding between Bangladesh and Malaysia. According to the ministry, Malaysia has agreed to begin operations through centres on its existing approved list after excluding those linked to alleged irregularities and the previous authoritarian regime.
A joint delegation from Malaysia’s ministries of health, human resources and home affairs is expected to visit Bangladesh to inspect medical centres and prepare a comprehensive list under the new policy.
Bangladeshi authorities will regularly inspect the listed centres and take action against those found violating local regulations. Additional centres may be included after the approval process is completed, the ministry said.
Malaysia is one of Bangladesh’s major overseas labour markets, employing a large number of Bangladeshi workers. The government said expanding overseas employment opportunities, particularly in Malaysia, had been a priority since it took office.
The ministry thanked the prime ministers of Bangladesh and Malaysia, the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources and other relevant authorities for their role in advancing the initiative.
It urged the government, recruiting agencies and workers to work together to ensure that the recruitment process remains orderly, transparent and compliant with the law.