Govt actively working to reopen Malaysian labour market soon: Mahdi

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Mahdi Amin has said the government is actively working to resume the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia at the earliest possible time.

Speaking at a briefing at the Secretariat on Sunday, he also confirmed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been invited by the Malaysian government to visit the country.

Mahdi said the current government is committed to improving the living standards of expatriates and is taking steps to ensure overseas employment through a transparent process at lower costs.

He emphasised that no syndicate would be allowed in the recruitment process and that the Malaysian authorities have been requested to take necessary measures in this regard. Both governments, he added, have shown a positive attitude toward resolving the issue.

The adviser recently visited Malaysia along with Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury. The visit marked the first high-level engagement on labour market issues since the new government assumed office in Bangladesh.

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During the visit, the delegation met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at his office. They also held a bilateral meeting with a delegation led by Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar.

In addition, Mahdi held discussions with Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir on expanding cooperation in higher education.

Responding to questions about when worker recruitment would resume, Mahdi Amin said the process is still underway and the government is working to finalise it as soon as possible.

On legal issues, he stated that Bangladesh’s position has been clearly outlined in a joint statement. He reiterated that the government believes in the rule of law and that the judiciary will function independently.

“Those involved in corruption or wrongdoing will face justice, while innocent individuals will receive fair treatment,” he said.

Addressing concerns over “credible recruitment agencies,” the adviser clarified that the initiative is not intended to create a new syndicate. Instead, it applies to all labour-sending countries, with Malaysia selecting agencies based on specific criteria.

He explained that Bangladesh considers credible agencies to be those that operate transparently and free from corruption, aiming to gradually reduce migration costs.

Mahdi highlighted the significant contribution of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia’s development and said Bangladesh has requested special consideration for its workforce. Malaysian authorities have assured that the matter will be reviewed through further discussions.

He also noted that discussions with Malaysia’s higher education ministry focused on enhancing cooperation in degree recognition, academic collaboration, and expanding opportunities for student and faculty exchange programmes. Both sides expressed interest in creating a joint platform for research and collaboration between institutions.

Summarising the visit, Mahdi said the delegation held several high-level meetings and conveyed a clear message that the government prioritizes expanding overseas employment opportunities while reducing migration costs through transparent processes.

He also recalled that labour migration from Bangladesh began during the tenure of former President Ziaur Rahman and remains a key pillar of the country’s economic progress. He added that the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare was established during the leadership of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, reflecting the importance of migrant welfare.

The adviser further said that expatriate Bangladeshis voted for the first time this year, fulfilling a key election promise of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The government also plans to introduce an expatriate card soon to provide additional support and services.

He concluded by saying that the Malaysian prime minister extended a warm welcome to the Bangladeshi delegation and expressed strong willingness to work together to resolve existing issues, describing it as a “remarkable and positive initiative” for strengthening bilateral cooperation.