Kamruzzaman Bablu :
After three long years, Malaysia has reopened its labour market for Bangladesh through signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and soon afterwards various complications regarding syndication have surfaced.
But both governments are yet to finalize the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of hiring migrants from Bangladesh.
Because the date of Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting hasn’t yet determined to finalize the SOP in presence of the representatives of the two countries even three months after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), said Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry officials.
The Malaysian employers got the clearance of their government to hire more than two lakhs foreign workers.
The governments of the two countries signed the MoU on December 19 last year to hire around 15 lakh Bangladeshi migrants for the country after around four years.
The deal paved the way for reopening the market for Bangladeshis after four years. Malaysia suspended recruiting Bangladeshis in 2018.
According to the sources in the ministry and international recruiting agencies, the recruitment process still remains inactive as the Malaysian authorities want to hire Bangladeshi migrants through a limited number of Bangladeshi Recruiting Agents (BRA). The number is not more than 25. The syndicate of agencies will work along with some 250 agencies which will work as sub-agents.
A syndicate comprising Bangladeshi origin Malaysian businessman Amin Bin Abdun Nur and two others and Bangladeshi businessman Ruhul Amin Swapan are misleading Malaysian government into further syndication giving illegal benefits to the authorities, they claimed.
However, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry wants to allow all valid agencies to send migrants to the country under its supervision so that no one can create further syndication depriving the other valid agencies and pocketing additional profit charging higher. Bangladesh also wants to ensure prestigious migration of its overseas jobseekers with necessary facilities at minimum fees like the other 14 workers-sending source countries – Indonesia, Nepal, Bhutan, India and the others. Due to the stance of the Bangladeshi authorities, Malaysia postponed the JWG meeting convened in February and an official tour of its interior minister scheduled in the month.
Regarding the obstacles and progress in reopening the market, Bangladesh’s Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed recently told this correspondent that there was no progress on the matter as the Malaysian authorities were not responding properly. “We are ready to send our migrants but they are not giving time to hold the JWG meeting for finalizing the SOP. There might be some reasons for their silence on the issue. However, we are not worried as almost one lakh people are leaving the country for Middle East with overseas employment. We will stick to our decision,” he added.
He also said that Bangladesh wouldn’t allow any syndicate that could manipulate the market again.
“We are observing the situation. If they want to hire people, we will follow the standard procedures maintained by the other worker sending countries,” he further added.
When contacted, former BAIRA President Mohammed Abul Basher, a leader of anti-syndication movement, told this correspondent that the market can be opened only after finalization of the SOP to make the MoU functional. But, the two governments haven’t yet taken any steps to finalize the SOP. Even the both government couldn’t fix the medical center still now.”The syndicate is influencing Malaysian government to hire Bangladeshi migrants through 25 agencies to pocket a huge amount of money,” he said. However, the Malaysian employers are hiring foreign workers from other 14 source countries giving chance to all agencies. Why is Bangladesh not getting the same facilities? Syndicate is only the reason. It’s scandalous, he observed.
Abul Basher said, “We had to wait a long time to reopen the market due to the syndication. Huge number of people failed to get a job in Malaysia last time due to the syndicate. Thousands of people haven’t yet got their money back from the syndicate after failing to travel. They have pocketed the money.” “Bangladesh’s Ruhul Amin Swapan and his ally Malaysian businessman Amin Bin Abdun Nur are behind the syndication. Country’s recruiting agencies want to do fair business by sending migrants with dignity and transparency. Bangladesh also cleared its stance on syndicate issue and sent letters to Malaysia for allowing all valid agencies to send migrants rejecting their proposal,” he added. He demanded scope to send migrants following the same method the other 14 source countries follow. While trying to contact with Managing Director of Cathersis International Ruhul Amin Swapan, also a former secretary general of BAIRA, this correspondent could not get his response.
