Recruiting agency sealed, fined for irregularities

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment on Thursday sealed a recruiting agency and fined it Tk50,000 for alleged irregularities and illegal activities, including unlawfully collecting passports from workers seeking jobs in Malaysia.

A special mobile court led by an executive magistrate of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) conducted the drive at Triple A Overseas (RL-2630) following instructions from Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, reads a press release issued by the ministry.

During the operation, the mobile court found evidence of various irregularities and illegal activities and subsequently sealed the agency’s office and imposed the fine.

The authorities also seized three boxes of passports that had been collected from prospective migrant workers in violation of regulations. The passports were taken into BMET custody.

Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said protecting the interests of migrant workers and expatriates was a top priority of the government.

“No unscrupulous or illegal recruiting agency will be allowed to exploit the innocence of ordinary people or deceive them under any circumstances,” he said.

The minister said the government would maintain a zero-tolerance policy against agencies violating rules or attempting to hold migrant workers hostage to their interests.

“Strict legal action against those who violate the rules will continue,” he added.

The ministry said the seized passports would be returned to their rightful owners through due legal procedures.

Legal proceedings against the recruiting agency are also underway, it said.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment said it would further intensify such drives to ensure transparency and accountability in the overseas employment sector and protect aspiring migrant workers from fraud and exploitation.