Tide of remittances to Malaysia workers!
October 5, 20243 Mins Read
Jumbangla Desk: Bangladesh is looking forward to send skilled workers to Malaysia. If these workers can go to Malaysia at a low cost, they will be able to contribute to their economy as well as to alleviate the labor crisis there and send foreign exchange to Bangladesh.

remitance

Recently, 4 lakh 75 thousand 500 workers from Bangladesh went to Malaysia in just 22 months. These migrant workers have sent remittances of about 3.5 billion dollars to Bangladesh in the last 3 years, which are important for the country. In the short-sightedness of the previous Sheikh Hasina government, by agreeing to the MoU proposal of the Malaysian government, the recruiting agencies are now having to take responsibility for various irregularities and corruption by sending workers through limited agencies. Differences have arisen among Bayra members. The then ministers and secretaries of the two governments are responsible for all of this. Ordinary Bayara members feel that they should be brought to justice.

Analysts said that under the existing memorandum of understanding, from August 8, 2022 to May 31, 2024, a quarter of a million Bangladeshi workers traveled to Malaysia in just 22 months. With this massive immigration process being a fully online based and automated software system, no worker has been cheated in going to Malaysia.

They got jobs in companies that employed them in the proper manner. These workers are getting salary and allowances through the bank and sending it as remittance to Bangladesh. In those 22 months, the workers are getting a basic salary of at least 1500 ringgit and overtime, about 50 thousand Bangladeshi taka per month.

As such, they are remitting about 2400 crore rupees per month and about 3000 crore rupees annually. If 500 more agencies could be involved in this process then there would be no controversy. However, 1100 cooperating agencies were indirectly involved in this process, said the officials.

Rabiul Islam, the owner of a manpower organization in Purana Paltan, said that the workers who went to Malaysia expressed their satisfaction with the working environment there. Almost all the workers are fine. Moreover, the relevant department of the Malaysian government has sincerely ensured all the rights and welfare of the workers as per the contract. In those 22 months, foreign remittance flows to Bangladesh increased after a large number of workers joined work in Malaysia.

Currently, Malaysia has moved from 8th to 4th place in terms of receiving foreign remittances in Bangladesh. The data of Bangladesh Bank says that the amount of remittances received from Malaysia in August 2024 alone is 251.9 million US dollars.

It is reported that 358 workers have been sent to Malaysia completely free of charge under the management of Catharsis International. Their recruiting company has borne all immigration expenses and also paid recruiting charges from Malaysia to our agency through banking channel.

At least 2.5 million people have directly benefited from the quarter of a million workers and their families moving to Malaysia in the current phase. They also said that 101 agencies approved by the Malaysian government, including allied agencies and about 1,100 recruiting agencies empowered through the employer's power of attorney are actively involved in sending workers to Malaysia at the current stage.

For a recruiting agency owner, repeated investigations by the ACC or law enforcement agencies within the country against the agency sending workers to a country, or smears in the media can have adverse effects on the recruiting country. As a result, the immigration process of workers in that country is hindered.

According to the government's allocation of business, the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment is the ministry that controls all matters related to the manpower export sector. Those who are good businessmen in various investigations should be controlled, investigated by the Ministry of Cooperation and Foreign Employment. It is hoped that by giving them the necessary support under the existing laws, the current instability in the sector will be removed and the Malaysian labor market will soon be re-opened to Bangladeshi workers.

Ali Haider Chowdhury, the former general manager of Baira, said that the demand for foreign workers in Malaysia's plantation and agriculture sectors is high. Through fruitful negotiations with the Malaysian government, there is a great opportunity to hire Bangladeshi workers to meet the labor needs of that country.

Expatriate welfare and foreign employment advisor. Asif Nazrul said that the current government is always sincere about sending skilled workers to different countries including Malaysia. We will discuss with the government of that country and take necessary steps.