Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has pledged strict measures against those responsible for the recent complications hindering Bangladeshi workers from migrating to Malaysia. Addressing the first day of the budget session of the 12th Parliament on June 5, the Prime Minister responded to concerns raised by Mujibul Haque Chunnu, the opposition chief whip and secretary general of the Jatiya Party.
Sheikh Hasina emphasized that while seeking overseas employment is common, the current delays and confusion surrounding worker migration to Malaysia are under thorough investigation. She highlighted the need to identify the root causes of these issues, despite the government’s efforts to establish laws and facilities for safe migration.
“Workers go to different countries, it is normal. Even after the government has formulated laws and provided facilities, some people go as brokers. But this time, it is being investigated why so many people fell into confusion when sending to Malaysia,” the Prime Minister said.
She pointed out that persistent issues with certain manpower businessmen in both Bangladesh and Malaysia contribute to complications and irregularities. These problems often result in workers finding their job roles mismatched upon arrival in Malaysia.
“There are some people who want to leave quickly and do not want to obey the rules. Action will be taken against those who are responsible for the incident in Malaysia,” Sheikh Hasina stated.
As of May 31, the agreement with the Malaysian government had authorized 526,676 Bangladeshi workers to travel to Malaysia. However, the Bangladesh Manpower Employment and Training Bureau (BMET) provided clearances for about 494,642 individuals, leaving 32,000 workers excluded for unspecified reasons.
Despite the government’s set migration cost of Tk 79,000 per person, many workers reported paying between Tk 500,000 to 700,000. Consequently, around 30,000 workers were unable to reach Malaysia by the deadline.
In response, the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment has launched an investigation. A six-member committee, led by Additional Secretary Noor Mohammad Mahbub, has been formed to determine why numerous recruiting agencies failed to send workers to Malaysia despite having the necessary permits and BMET smart cards.
The committee has requested information from workers who could not travel within the stipulated time, aiming to address the situation and hold accountable those who have caused undue hardship to the migrant workers.
