The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has yet to make any formal announcement on reopening Malaysia’s labour market for Bangladeshi workers. However, the Bangladesh High Commission has started certifying demand letters for worker recruitment.
Information has also been confirmed about the certification of a demand letter for 28 workers under a recruiting agency. The Expatriates’ Welfare Minister said a formal announcement on the matter would be made soon.
After prolonged discussions and diplomatic efforts, the current government took steps to reopen Malaysia’s labour market for Bangladeshi workers about two months ago. However, prospective migrants say they still have no clear information about the process of sending workers to the country.
The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has not yet formally announced the reopening of the labour market, creating uncertainty among those hoping to work in Malaysia.
Several prospective migrants have also alleged that they faced difficulties while trying to obtain information about recruitment for Malaysia.
One said, “We only see in the news that workers are being recruited. But when we come here, the reception sends us to one person, who then sends us to someone else. We are sent from one place to another, from top to bottom and then from bottom to top.”
Another said, “It took us half an hour just to find out where to talk and whom to talk to.”
Meanwhile, preliminary information indicates that recruitment from Malaysia has already started.
The Bangladesh High Commission has certified a demand letter for the recruitment of 28 Bangladeshi workers in response to a recruitment request from Malaysian supermarket chain NSK Trade City.
The certification was completed under Bangladeshi recruiting agency Goodness Services Limited, the company confirmed to Star News.
This suggests that although the ministry has yet to make a formal announcement, the process of sending workers to Malaysia may already be moving forward, at least through the certification of a demand letter from one employer.
When asked about the matter, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury declined to provide details but said the ministry would issue an official statement very soon.
“We will hold a roundtable conference involving the media and everyone working on this issue. We will take everyone’s views on how we should begin the journey and whether anyone has any suggestions,” Ariful Haque Chowdhury said.
Meanwhile, prospective migrants have called on the government to provide accurate and clear information instead of leaving uncertainty over Malaysia’s labour market.
They questioned why an official announcement has been delayed if the labour market has actually reopened. They also asked how demand-letter certification could have begun if the process has not yet been finalised.
Prospective migrants are now waiting for an official announcement and clear instructions from the ministry on the entire process of sending workers to Malaysia.
