Baira demands equal access for all agencies to Malaysian labour market
According to the MoU, the Malaysian authorities are responsible for selecting Bangladeshi recruiting agencies to send workers to Malaysia – a provision Baira members say paves the way for syndication
Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) has called for equal access for all recruiting agencies in the Malaysian labour market, saying the current system limits recruitment to a few agencies selected by Malaysia and encourages syndication.
At a human chain organised in front of the Probashi Kallyan Bhaban today (5 May), Baira members demanded amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Bangladesh and Malaysia on recruiting migrant workers.
According to the MoU, Malaysian authorities are responsible for selecting Bangladeshi recruiting agencies —a provision Baira members say opens the door to syndication.
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They also called for the removal of complications in obtaining immigration clearance cards for Saudi-bound workers, which are issued by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
They also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Adviser's Office yesterday, outlining concerns over a recruitment syndicate for Malaysia.
According to Baira members, they do not want any syndicate to operate in the Malaysian labour market.
Only 100 recruiting agencies were allowed to send workers to Malaysia, while Bangladesh has over 2,500 registered agencies.
"This labour market should not be limited to any specific individuals or groups but must be open to all legitimate recruiting agencies," the memorandum stated, adding that it is essential to ensure workers can be sent at a low cost.
The memorandum also urged the Bangladesh government to press the Malaysian authorities to cancel the controversial online software currently used for worker recruitment.
Baira demanded that those behind the syndicate be brought to justice and given exemplary punishment.
The memorandum, representing 453 members, was signed by Baira's former senior vice president Riazul Islam, current Vice President Noman Chowdhury, BNP Dhaka District President and Baira member Khandaker Abu Ashfaq, former joint secretary general Mohammad Fakhrul Islam, Akbar Hossain, former vice president Moazzem Hossain, and former executive committee member Mostafa Mahmud.
