Joint Working Group meeting: Malaysia, Bangladesh strengthen labour ties through key bilateral agreement

Malaysia and Bangladesh have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in labour affairs through the Record Signing Session of the two-day "Third Working Committee Group (JWC)" meeting held in Dhaka.

The signing session marked a significant step forward in ensuring the recruitment and management of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia is carried out in a fair, ethical, and transparent manner, reads a press release today (23 May).

The meeting was led by Dr Mohd Shaharin bin Umar, deputy secretary general (political and international) of Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), and Dr Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, senior secretary of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Government of Bangladesh.

Several key agreements and decisions emerged from the meeting, reflecting a shared commitment to ethical labour practices and structured migration management.

Among the major outcomes was the approval for the special entry of 7,964 Bangladeshi workers into Malaysia in a controlled and phased manner, aimed at meeting labour market demands while ensuring proper oversight.

The two countries also agreed to revise the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to broaden the scope of cooperation, particularly emphasising the protection of workers' rights, legal status, and occupational safety.

A significant step toward preventing abuse and exploitation was the decision to establish a transparent, fair, and accountable foreign worker recruitment system.

Additionally, to uphold skill and safety standards in the construction sector, CIDB Malaysia certification will now be mandatory for all skilled workers, further reinforcing quality assurance and worker protection.

These measures align with Malaysia's MADANI framework, which emphasises Justice, Kindness, and Creativity, particularly in promoting the rights and welfare of foreign workers in a comprehensive and humane manner.

The session underscored both nations' commitment to jointly address global labour challenges and develop a more inclusive, ethical, and sustainable employment ecosystem.

Through this strategic labour diplomacy, Malaysia continues to demonstrate its role as a responsible partner in global workforce management, the release added.