Malaysia has agreed in principle to recruit 1.2 million Bangladeshi workers over the next six years under a structured and ethical labour migration system.
The decision was made during a high-level meeting in Putrajaya between Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates` Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim Chee Keong.
The bilateral talks focused on two core issues: ensuring fair treatment and timely wages for existing Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, and establishing a transparent, zero-cost recruitment process for future migration.
As part of the understanding, over 30,000 Bangladeshi workers are expected to migrate to Malaysia under an employer-funded recruitment model — a shift aimed at reducing migration costs for workers.
The Bangladeshi delegation, led by Senior Secretary Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan and Deputy Secretary Md Sarwar Alam, arrived in Malaysia on May 14 to advance the diplomatic discussions.
Sarwar Alam confirmed that a consensus has been reached and the agreement is expected to be finalized during the upcoming Joint Working Committee meeting on May 21 in Dhaka.
Officials noted that general labour wages in Malaysia are nearly double those in Middle Eastern countries, making this labour corridor particularly significant for Bangladesh`s economy.
However, both sides acknowledged challenges stemming from disputes among Bangladeshi recruitment agencies and stressed the need for clean, legally compliant recruitment practices.
Government representatives reiterated that recruitment must follow global standards and that no agency will be arbitrarily assigned.
The responsibility lies with the agencies to secure jobs abroad, after which the government will validate the process.
The initiative marks a major step forward in securing sustainable overseas employment and enhancing remittance inflow, which is crucial to Bangladesh`s economic stability.
