KL to open its labour market to compliant agencies here

Malaysia is going to open its labour recruitment market to all eligible Bangladeshi agencies under a new, uniform selection system.

While this promise will help expand opportunities for Bangladeshi workers, industry experts warn that only a few agencies have the capacity to meet the stringent criteria issued by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment yesterday.

In the past, only a select few Bangladeshi agencies were allowed to operate in Malaysia, while agencies from other countries enjoyed broader access, prompting calls for a more equitable and transparent system.

The ministry said the issue was discussed at the 3rd Bangladesh-Malaysia Joint Working Group meeting in Dhaka on May 21-22 this year, where the Malaysian delegation assured equal treatment for Bangladesh under uniform selection standards. Following this, Malaysia shared its updated 'Recruiting Agent Selection Criteria' on Tuesday, which will also apply to agencies from India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Myanmar, ministry officials said.

The ministry circular outlined several key requirements for agencies wishing to take part in the labour recruitment process. These include agencies with a minimum of five years of operational experience, evidence of sending at least 3,000 workers abroad over the past five years, and experience of sending workers to at least three countries.

Besides, the agencies must have permanent office spaces of no less than 10,000 square feet and be operational for at least three years.

They are also required to maintain training and assessment centres with accommodation facilities, technical training and induction facilities, and must hold certificates of good conduct, free from any involvement in forced labour, trafficking, or unethical migration practices.

Agencies must submit five commendations from international employers and provide proof of compliance with the legal and recruitment procedures of destination countries, including Malaysia.

The expatriates' welfare ministry has urged all licensed recruiting agencies to submit their applications with the necessary documents by November 7 this year. Once Bangladeshi agencies submit applications that meet these criteria, these will be forwarded to the Malaysian authorities for approval.

This development comes after years of persistent efforts by the Bangladesh government to ensure equal access for local agencies. Malaysia earlier gave broader access to recruiting agencies from other labour-sending countries, which led to concerns of unfair treatment and a lack of transparency.

A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Daily Star that the selection process is expected to be completed by December, and the Malaysian labour market may be fully open to the eligible agencies starting January next year.

Ali Haider Chowdhury, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), raised concerns about the feasibility of the new criteria.

He pointed out that the criteria for agencies to have a permanent office of at least 10,000 square feet could pose a significant hurdle for most local agencies, out of 3,000, which typically operate from much smaller offices.

"Many agencies only have around 800 to 1,000-square-foot office spaces, and the requirement for a 10,000-square-foot office is not realistic," Haider said, adding that it will be almost impossible for agencies to comply with the requirements in nine days.

He opined that only about 10 to 12 agencies would be able to meet the strict criteria, although he acknowledged the opening of the Malaysian labour market for Bangladeshi workers as a positive development.

Still, he was cautious that shady dealings could continue even under the new system.

Labour recruitment from Bangladesh to Malaysia has been repeatedly halted since the 1990s, often due to powerful lobbies in both countries. In 2022, Malaysia selected only 101 Bangladeshi agencies without clarifying the criteria. Before the May 2024 halt, nearly 5,00,000 Bangladeshis had been recruited, each reportedly spending $4,500-$6,000. Many employers allegedly secured approvals through bribery.

According to Malaysian data as of April, 8,98,970 Bangladeshis work in Malaysia -- the highest after Indonesians and Nepalis -- though migrant rights activists say the actual number would be higher if undocumented workers are included.