Protect our migrant workers in Malaysia

It is certainly good news that Malaysia is again set to hire Bangladeshi migrant workers, after a three-year hiatus since 2018 imposed by the then Malaysian prime minister. Not only will this offer a much-needed boost to our economy after the downturn caused by Covid-19 lockdowns, but the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries gives hope that workers may have some protection throughout the migration process and after. However, as migrant workers' rights activists have pointed out, there remain some issues which could perpetuate the previous problems of forced labour and high recruitment costs, borne by the workers.

The foremost issue is that the MoU, signed on December 19, has not been made public yet. A statement by the Bangladeshi expatriate ministry stated that recruitment costs on the Malaysian end would be borne by employers, but there is no mention as to who will bear the costs of migration for the workers on the Bangladeshi end, nor what will be done if they are exploited or underpaid once they arrive in Malaysia. This goes against the ethical recruitment model of the International Labour Organization (IOM), as per which all recruitment costs must be borne by the Malaysian employers. In the past, workers have had to pay up to four times more than the agreed amount to get to their jobs in Malaysia. Needless to say, the lack of transparency regarding the MoU creates cause for concern in this regard—especially with the involvement of private agencies. Sometimes, there are many unauthorised agencies in the midst of these—in Bangladesh and in Malaysia—which trick workers into paying them high and/or illegal fees.

While the existence of the MoU is reassuring, it would be of no use if it was not properly implemented. It is, therefore, crucial for both the governments to cooperate and monitor the recruitment process closely, so that workers are not burdened with high migration costs. Additionally, the activities of the legitimate private agencies involved in the process must also be monitored, and these agencies must in turn work for the benefit of the workers, instead of exploiting them by charging unnecessary fees. Essentially, the Bangladeshi authorities must ensure transparency and fairness of the recruitment and migration process for our workers. These are people who leave behind their families solely to earn a living in an unfamiliar land, while also boosting our economy through remittances. They deserve to be protected from exploitation.