The workers are facing the problems because of cheating by recruiting agencies in Bangladesh and outsourcing companies in Malaysia.

"We have already sent a letter to the labour wing there asking it to launch a probe into the allegations and report to the ministry in seven days," Abdul Matin Chowdhury, expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry secretary, said yesterday.

The move came following a report published in The Daily Star on June 17. According to the report, many Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia are being underpaid and even the employers often deduct salaries of the workers on various grounds that were never mentioned in the job contracts.

The employers also force the workers to work for longer hours and do not provide enough food, accommodation and other facilities, which they are supposed to provide.

Chowdhury also said the ministry also asked the Bangladesh mission to probe if there are any Bangladeshi workers stranded in some hilly areas as reported in newspapers.

He said the ministry on June 11 cancelled the recruiting license of Link-up International Ltd, a recruiting agency in Bangladesh, on charges of irregularities.