A delegation of former leaders of the Bangladesh International Recruiting Agency (BAIRA) called on visiting Malaysian Plantation, Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Majah Zuraida Binti Kamaruddin on February 26, where both parties discussed recent issues related to migration, and BAIRA’s former leaders welcomed the honourable minister with flowers.
In the meeting, Datuk Majah Zuraida Binti Kamaruddin expressed appreciation for the contribution of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia’s plantation sector over several long decades, adding that her country is eager to hire more workers from this country for the sector, which is dependent on Bangladeshi workers.
She informed the BAIRA leaders about the zero cost formula. Under this move, the employer will bear all migration costs of a worker in the country and abroad. Moreover, the employer will pay the service charge and processing fee to the concerned recruiting agency.
According to the labour law of Malaysia and set by the government, each worker will get a salary of 1,200 ringgit. Moreover, according to the guidelines of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the workers will get accommodation, medical services, and other benefits.
She clarified her position against any kind of syndication regarding immigration. Emphasising the importance of participation by all recruiting agencies in sending workers, she said that she does not support any kind of discriminatory policy towards government-approved agencies.
In fact, she has repeatedly stated her position against any such policy.
While sending workers, both Bangladesh and Malaysia must act in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed, she urged, adding that no process other than the one specified in the MoU can be followed.
In response to the visiting Malaysian minister, BAIRA's leaders said all licenced employment agencies should receive equal opportunities to work. Only then will there be no more chances of corruption in immigration. As there will be more gateways, more workers will be able to go to Malaysia at a much lower cost in a competitive market.
The MoU does not mention anything about 25 licences. They also stated that should exist no discrimination about the licences. The status of all licences in Bangladesh will be the same. The labour market cannot be monopolised.
It should be mentioned that despite not being on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries in this regard on December 19, 2021, Malaysia’s Minister for Human Resources Datuk Seri M Saravanan wrote a letter to Minister for Expatriate Welfare Imran Ahmed on January 14 seeking approval of 25 recruiting agencies, and the move was widely criticised in both countries.
Deeming his proposal illegal as per the law of Bangladesh, a list of 1,530 licences approved and renewed by the Bangladesh government was sent in reply to his letter.
The court has references about the work of all agencies amid the syndicate’s corruption back in 2017-18. If the same monopoly formula was utilised again, there might be a case filed under the Competition Act at any time, and sending workers might suffer from uncertainty for an indefinite period.
The delegation also said that the Bangladesh government and BAIRA are fully prepared to send workers to Malaysia right away. However, as the proposal from Malaysia’s Human Resource minister wasn't acceptable, the matter hangs in limbo, they added.
In a letter on January 18, Minister for Expatriate Welfare Imran Ahmed clarified Bangladesh's position against any sort of manpower syndication. All leaders of BAIRA also agreed with the government’s stance.
The list of 1,530 licences approved and renewed by the Government of Bangladesh has been sent, and workers can be sent to Malaysia as soon as the country's government accepts this list.
BAIRA leaders welcomed the move of zero-cost immigration, and pledged full cooperation with the Malaysian government on all issues related to immigration to protect the interests of workers.
BAIRA’s former president and adviser Mohd Noor Ali, secretary general Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, former joint secretary Mizanur Rahman, and former finance secretary Fakhrul Islam were part of the delegation.
