Malaysia’s labour market is set to reopen for Bangladeshi workers after a prolonged suspension, with authorities agreeing in principle to recruit 10,000 workers completely free of migration costs, including airfare, marking a significant milestone in bilateral employment relations following high-level diplomatic engagements between the two nations.
The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment announced the breakthrough in a press release on Friday (August 28), confirming that the first batch of workers will be sent to Malaysia on special chartered flights through the state-run Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), with no financial burden placed on the workers themselves . The zero-cost arrangement represents a major victory for the Bangladeshi government’s efforts to protect migrant workers from excessive recruitment fees and exploitation.
The reopening comes after extensive diplomatic efforts, including several ministerial-level meetings between the two countries and direct discussions during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first foreign visit, where he raised the issue with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar . The labour market had remained closed to Bangladeshi workers due to concerns over corruption, mismanagement, syndication, and irregularities during the previous regime .
Under Malaysia’s new recruitment framework, 25 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies have been directly selected, while an additional 312 agencies have been cleared to operate as associate recruitment agencies . Combined with BOESL’s participation, a total of 338 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies will have the opportunity to send workers to the Malaysian labour market, addressing earlier concerns that the initial list of only 25 agencies would create a syndicate .
The selection of agencies was conducted by a high-level Malaysian joint committee involving the ministries of human resources, foreign affairs, and home affairs, along with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and law enforcement agencies, with no involvement from the Bangladesh government to ensure transparency and accountability . The 312 newly listed agencies were drawn from a 423-agency list compiled by the interim government, specifically excluding those linked to syndicates or the previous Awami League administration .
In response to Bangladesh’s request, Malaysia has also revised its list of approved medical centres for worker health screenings, excluding controversial and problematic institutions from the existing list. Operations will initially begin through 16 approved medical centres, though a joint Malaysian delegation from the health, human resources, and home affairs ministries is expected to visit Bangladesh for on-site inspections before a final comprehensive list is prepared under the new policy .
The ministry has emphasized that the existing bilateral recruitment arrangement remains valid until December 31, 2026, and Bangladesh will seek to protect its interests when a new arrangement is negotiated after the current one expires . Safeguards for workers are being prioritized, including measures to prevent harassment at airports, ensure workers join designated employers directly, and guarantee regular wages, accommodation, and medical care in accordance with Malaysian labour laws .
A 24-hour monitoring cell and help desk will be established under the ministry to respond quickly to migration-related complaints and ensure worker protection . The government has also issued a stern warning to jobseekers about middlemen, brokers, and fraudulent recruitment networks, urging them not to make any financial transactions, undergo medical tests, or submit passports until an official notification or directive is issued by the ministry . The specific process for sending workers has not yet been finalized, and the ministry has stated that a formal notification will be issued in due course .
