Baira demands opening Malaysian labour market to all valid agencies
Baira members called for a transparent and equal policy for agency selection instead of restricting the labour market to a few agencies
Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) has demanded that the Malaysian labour market be opened to all valid and eligible recruiting agencies in Bangladesh, rather than being controlled by any individual or group.
During a press conference at a Dhaka hotel today (19 August), former Baira joint secretary general Mohammad Fakhrul Islam presented a written statement, representing the association as it has no formal committee.
He said Baira is not in favour of keeping the Malaysian labour market closed; rather, they support re-opening it quickly.
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However, the market must be resumed with the equal participation of all valid recruiting agencies instead of under the exclusive control of any individual or group.
During his written statement, Fakhrul Islam noted that the Malaysian labour market opened through 10 agencies in 2016 and was closed in 2018.
It reopened in 2022 through 25 agencies, which was later expanded to 101. Amid allegations of irregularities and high migration costs, the market closed again in 2024, he added.
Fakhrul Islam said that learning from past experiences, re-introducing the same non-transparent, monopolistic, and limited-agency-dependent system is in no way desirable.
He also raised questions about agency selection for the Malaysian labour market.
The Baira representative stated that a list of 423 agencies, including 260 agencies meeting seven criteria and 163 agencies meeting six criteria out of 10, was sent.
Nearly 2,000 agencies were not selected because all valid agencies were not given the opportunity to re-apply when conditions were relaxed.
Meanwhile, he alleged that efforts are underway to form a new syndicate centred around only 25 agencies. He also alleged that plans have been made to collect 5 million ringgit (around Tk17 crore) for inclusion in the list and 5,000 ringgit per worker.
At the press conference, Baira demanded equal opportunities for all valid and qualified recruiting agencies in sending workers to Malaysia.
They called for a transparent and equal policy for agency selection instead of restricting the labour market to 25, 50, or 100 agencies.
In addition, they demanded an amendment to the relevant clause of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) so that either the government or the employers there can determine which Bangladeshi agencies can send workers.
If Malaysia wishes to recruit workers through a limited number of agencies, Baira proposes launching a "One-Stop Service" through the state-owned enterprise BOESL.
They also demanded a transparent databank, instalment-based payment mechanisms, and strong government supervision to reduce workers' migration costs.
Members urged the utilisation of all valid, experienced, and capable recruiting agencies to achieve the target of overseas employment for 1 crore Bangladeshis over the next 5 years, rather than granting special privileges to a select few entities.
If necessary, Baira members requested Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to allow all valid agencies to send workers through BOESL's "One-Stop Service".
Speaking at the event, former Baira senior vice-president Riazul Islam expressed concerns that although the Malaysian labour market is reopening after a long time, the old syndicate might return in a new form.
He stated that granting business opportunities to only 10% of Baira's 2,600 members while depriving the rest is entirely unacceptable.
He alleged that while the syndicate rate previously stood at around Tk5 crore, it has now escalated to Tk17.5 crore, the burden of which will ultimately fall on the workers.
He further stated that due to the syndicate, a worker might have to spend up to Tk8-10 lakh to go to Malaysia, which would exploit workers and negatively impact the country's economy.
Calling upon Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his Malaysian counterpart to stop syndicates and keep the market open for all valid recruiting agencies, he warned that if a syndicate is formed, they are prepared to launch demonstrations, including a hunger strike until death at the Central Shaheed Minar.
