Negotiating levy-free work a must
Malaysia will now take Bangladeshi workers for all sectors including construction, industries, services and plantations. While that is good news, the latest decision of the Malaysian government to slap an annual levy on expatriate workers spells trouble for Bangladeshi workers working, or intending to work, in Malaysia. Previously this levy used to be paid by employers; the new rules put the burden on workers directly. Unless the government is successful in negotiating with Malaysia to keep our workers out of the new levy system, a Bangladeshi worker engaged in construction and manufacturing sectors will have to cough up Tk 47,205 every year to work in that country.
Needless to say, how Malaysia conducts its financial matters is its business. But we must stress that as a rich country, Malaysia should take into consideration that our workers emigrating to work abroad come mostly from poorer backgrounds. They literally sell or mortgage the few fixed assets they have to work under very strenuous circumstances in countries like Malaysia to send back crucial foreign exchange to Bangladesh – an essential prerequisite that drives our economy.
Hence, the move to slap a levy on workers from Bangladesh, we feel, is an unreasonable move. Certainly such an extra burden will cause an increase in migration costs which is already one of the most expensive in the world. It could also potentially put a dampening effect on transforming Malaysia as an attractive foreign labour market for our workers. Surely, the case for exemption is strong enough for a rethink and renegotiation.
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