Create opportunity for all agencies: recruiting agents
A platform of recruiting agents yesterday demanded that the government create opportunity for all agencies while sending migrant workers to Malaysia after the Southeast Asian country reopens its labour market for Bangladesh.
At a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity, members of "Baira Syndicate Nirmul Oikyajot" alleged an "evil attempt" was on to form a new "syndicate" comprising of 25 agencies to send workers to Malaysia.
"This, if implemented, will deprive nearly 99 percent of the country's recruiting agencies," said the platform's convener Ali Haider Chowdhury.
"We don't want syndication regarding Malaysia's labour market," he said, while reading out a written statement.
A former secretary general of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), Haider said they desired to send workers to Malaysia under transparent and specific rules at low-cost and with assurance of opportunity for all.
The platform raised the demand as the two countries are likely to hold the next Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Tuesday on the market's reopening.
In 2016, 10 Bangladeshi recruiting agents were selected by Malaysian government for recruiting workers from Bangladesh.
The 10 agents were accused of monopoly and charging excessive amounts from the migrants. Malaysian media later termed the 10 agents part of "an organised syndicate".
Malaysia suspended hiring Bangladeshi workers in September, 2018 on allegation of malpractices in the recruitment process and high recruitment costs.
Last October at a virtual meeting between Expatriates' Welfare Minister Imran Ahmad and Malaysia's Human Resources Minister M Saravanan, Malaysia agreed to reopen its labour market for Bangladesh, said a press release of the expatriates' welfare ministry.
Comments