Dhaka, KL ink 4 deals
Dhaka, KL ink 4 deals
Bangladeshis see bigger employment opportunity
Bangladesh and Malaysia signed four deals yesterday, one of which will open up doors to 12,000 Bangladeshi jobseekers.
A joint statement said the deals would bring the two countries closer in each other's benefit.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the signing ceremony at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.
The four deals are: Protocol Amending the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 2012 between Malaysia and Bangladesh on the Employment of Workers, MoU between Bangladesh and Malaysia on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism, Agreement between Bangladesh and Malaysia on the Partial Abolition of Visa Requirements and MoU between Bangladesh and Malaysia on Cultural, Arts and Heritage Cooperation.
Speaking at a press conference, Najib said 12,000 Bangladeshi workers would arrive in Sarawak early next year to meet the shortfall of 62,000 workers in the plantation sector.
“If they can fit in well, we can consider bringing in more Bangladeshi workers in future,” he added.
About 299,000 Bangladeshi workers were gainfully and legally employed in the country's construction and manufacturing sectors, mentioned Najib.
Bangladesh officials said the protocol on the employment of workers will pave the way for sending workers to Sarawak province, outside mainland Malaysia, for working in the plantation sector.
As per the previous deal of 2012, a worker's minimum remuneration including all other allowances, incentives and benefits was RM (Malaysian ringgit) 900. However, the salary of a worker in Sarawak will be RM 800 (1 RM= Tk 22.52) as per the law of the province.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor signed the deals on behalf of the Bangladesh government.