Malaysia Reopens Labour Market for Bangladeshis

Malaysia has reopened its labour market for Bangladeshi workers, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury announced on Tuesday, describing the move as a major breakthrough following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent bilateral visit to the Southeast Asian nation.

Speaking at a programme at the Sylhet Circuit House, the minister said Bangladesh will now select the recruiting agencies responsible for hiring and sending workers, instead of Malaysian authorities.

He said the new arrangement is expected to ensure greater transparency and better protection for migrant workers throughout the recruitment process.

The minister also expressed optimism that Bangladeshi workers would be able to travel to Malaysia without paying recruitment fees within the next one to two months.

He added that the government is working to expand overseas employment opportunities and said prospective workers seeking jobs in Japan, Mauritius and several Middle Eastern countries would also receive positive developments in the near future.