‘Govt pushing to reopen Malaysia labour market soon’

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Mahdi Amin said on Sunday that the government was actively working to resume the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia at the earliest possible time.
Speaking at a briefing at the Secretariat, he also said that the government was committed to improving the living standards of expatriates and ensuring overseas employment through a transparent, low-cost process.
He emphasised that no syndicate would be allowed in recruitment and said Malaysian authorities requested to take necessary measures to prevent such practices. Both sides, he added, have shown a positive attitude towards resolving the issue.
The adviser recently visited Malaysia along with Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury. The visit marked the first high-level engagement on labour market issues since the new government assumed office.
During the visit, the delegation met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and held bilateral talks with a delegation led by Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar.
Mahdi also held discussions with Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir on expanding cooperation in higher education.
Responding to queries on the timeline for resuming recruitment, he said the process was ongoing and the government was working to finalise it as soon as possible.
On legal issues, he said Bangladesh’s position had been clearly outlined in a joint statement, reaffirming commitment to the rule of law and an independent judiciary.
“Those involved in corruption or wrongdoing will face justice, while innocent individuals will receive fair treatment,” he said.
Addressing concerns over “credible recruitment agencies”, Mahdi clarified that the initiative was not intended to create a new syndicate. Instead, it would apply to all labour-sending countries with Malaysia selecting agencies based on specific criteria.
He said Bangladesh defines credible agencies as those operating transparently and free from corruption with the aim of gradually reducing migration costs.
Mahdi highlighted the contribution of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia’s development and said Bangladesh sought special consideration for its workforce. Malaysian authorities assured that the matter would be reviewed through further discussions.
He also noted that talks with Malaysia’s higher education ministry focused on degree recognition, 
 academic collaboration, and expanding opportunities for student and faculty exchanges. Both sides expressed interest in creating a joint platform for research cooperation.
Summarising the visit, Mahdi said the delegation conveyed a clear message that the government prioritises expanding overseas employment while reducing costs through transparency.

He added that labour migration began during the tenure of former president Ziaur Rahman and remains a key pillar of the economy. The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare was later established under former prime minister Khaleda Zia, reflecting the importance of migrant welfare.
The adviser also said expatriate Bangladeshis voted for the first time this year, fulfilling a key election pledge of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The government plans to introduce an expatriate card soon to enhance services for migrant workers.
He said the Malaysian prime minister extended a warm welcome to the Bangladeshi delegation and expressed strong willingness to work together to resolve existing issues, describing it as a positive step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation.