Bangladesh is set to receive significant priority in Malaysia’s upcoming recruitment drive for foreign workers, according to Dr. Asif Nazrul, the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser of Bangladesh. In a recent video post on his verified Facebook account, Dr. Nazrul shared that Malaysia plans to recruit between 100,000 to 150,000 foreign workers in the coming months. During his visit to Malaysia, he engaged in discussions with their Human Resources Minister, Steven Sim Chee Keong, who assured him that Bangladesh would be given the highest priority in the recruitment process.
According to Dr. Nazrul, the maximum number of laborers to be recruited will come from Bangladesh. This positive development follows official meetings with Malaysia’s Minister of Home Affairs and the Human Resources Minister. Dr. Nazrul also had informal discussions with Malaysia’s trade minister, indicating that various channels of communication are being utilized to strengthen labor relations between the two countries.
Dr. Nazrul referred to the previous visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Bangladesh, where the Malaysian premier, a personal friend of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, had assured opportunities for Bangladeshi workers. This assurance included extending chances to approximately 17,000 Bangladeshi workers who missed the opportunity to travel to Malaysia by the May 31, 2024 deadline.
The discussions have resulted in a commitment to take these workers in batches, with a list of 7,926 workers prepared for the first batch. The Malaysian administration has already initiated the process to facilitate their entry and employment in the country. This development comes as a relief to many Bangladeshi workers eager to work abroad.
An important aspect of Dr. Nazrul’s visit was his request for Malaysia to provide multiple entry visas to Bangladeshi workers. He noted that workers from other countries receive such visas, whereas Bangladeshi laborers do not. The Malaysian Interior Minister assured Dr. Nazrul of immediate action on this matter, demonstrating a willingness to address and rectify the disparity.
In addition to unskilled labor, Dr. Nazrul proposed that Malaysia consider hiring skilled workers from Bangladesh, such as security guards, caregivers, and nurses. The Malaysian officials reportedly responded positively to this suggestion, indicating potential future collaborations in these sectors.
Dr. Nazrul emphasized that the productive discussions and developments were largely a result of the personal friendship between Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The guidance and directions from Professor Yunus played a crucial role in advancing these discussions. Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Chief Adviser, Lutfey Siddiqi, also participated actively in the discussions, contributing significantly to the progress made.
The efforts to strengthen labor ties with Malaysia are part of a broader initiative to expand employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers abroad. As the discussions continue and more concrete steps are taken, Bangladesh is poised to become a major contributor to Malaysia’s foreign workforce.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/xrbjnlzxta. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.