Malaysian authorities lifted a five year ban on recruitment of Bangladeshi workers on November 26, 2012. The first batch of workers are expected to arrive by the month of January, 2013. After the agreement, Bangladeshi workers can now be recruited in the plantation sector. However hiring these workers will be limited to the plantation sector only and will be done through a government-to-government arrangement.
The recent move will completely eliminate the involvement of third parties including agents, direct recruitment of workers by employers and outsourcing companies. Moreover, the recruitment process is going to be strictly confined to the respective agencies which are designated by both the governments.
Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Subramaniam said that the government will keep a watch on the progress of the new arrangement for three months before it is opened to other sectors and other countries.
Subramanium said, “We want to evaluate the effectiveness of the process and procedures, as well as the problems and challenges that might arise from its implementation.” The minister added that after three months, once they have some confidence in the new system, they will open opportunities in other sectors as well. Bangladesh was represented by the minister of the country's Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment division – Khandker Mosharraf Hossain. Another memorandum of understanding has also been signed with Bangladesh so that the countries can work together on preventing and combating transnational crimes.
