The confusion over the labour market in Malaysia will be cleared this month after the ministry level meet between the two countries.
In the upcoming meeting, expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister Nurul Islam will be representing Bangladesh. Relevant department heads of the ministry will also be present.
During informal meets between the Bangladesh embassy and the Malaysian human resources department, the issues to be discussed at the ministry level meet have been fixed.
It’s believed that the discussions will feature: lowest migration cost, transparency in the process and maintaining the old system.
The Bangladesh expatriates’ ministry wanted to talk to the Malaysian authority after the Malaysian government revoked the Recruiting System Foreign Worker Application System (SPPA) from 1 September.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary committee has recommended adoption of all necessary steps to send workers to Malaysia.
It has also recommended maintaining close ties with relevant departments in Malaysia.
Additional secretary of the ministry, Dr. Ahmed Munirus Salehin, told Bangla Tribune: “we expect to talk about the new worker appointment system in the upcoming joint technical meeting.”
Secretary general of employment exporting agency, BAIRA, Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury, told Bangla Tribune: “the policy regarding the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers will be determined by the two governments; it’s their will if they want to stick to the previous system or adopt a new one.”
Malaysian prime minister, Mahathir Mohammad has promised that all accredited agents that send workers abroad will soon be given the permission to process applications of potential migrant workers.
The Malaysian president feels that when all licenced agencies are given permission, migration cost may fall.
In the G to G system of the past, migration cost was Tk. 30,000, which is now reported to be Tk 4,00,000-5,00,00.
With only ten agencies given the right to send workers to Malaysia, allegations of corruption surfaced with Malaysia declaring a stoppage to the existing system of recruiting overseas workers.