State Minister for Expatriate Welfare Shafiqur Rahman Choudhury on Thursday said at least 70% workers, who could not fly to Malaysia within the specified timeframe, have already been refunded the money they had deposited to the recruiting agencies,
"According to agencies, 70% of the workers have been refunded, and the remaining will get it shortly," he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with the Malaysian ambassador in Bangladesh at the secretariat.
Asked about the reopening of the labour market for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, the state minister said the issue will be discussed at a joint working group meeting between the two countries scheduled for next month.
Since the reopening of the labour market in August 2022, Malaysia had allocated a quota of over 532,000 for Bangladeshi workers. Out of this, 476,000 workers were able to reach their destination.
The Malaysian authorities had allowed 100 private recruiting agencies to send workers from Bangladesh. However, due to mismanagement and corruption in the recruitment process, the agencies failed to send approximately 17,777 workers before the 31 May deadline set by Malaysia.
Malaysia will not hire workers from Bangladesh until they declare a new quota.
The state minister said that his ministry sent a request letter to Malaysian government in favour of the overseas workers, who could not fly to Kuala Lumpur for jobs in time, adding, “BAIRA (recruiting agency association) was informed us about refunded of Taka to 70 percent workers who could not go to Malaysia in time.
We have also asked the BAIRA leaders to sign an agreement after refunding money to workers, which they paid earlier. Then workers will sign the agreement.”
He said that BAIRA will send the list to the ministry after refunding money to the workers, adding, “We will take legal measures against the recruiting agencies after failing refunding of money to the workers.”
Shafiqur Rahman said efforts have been underway to search new overseas job markets following the Prime Minister’s directives.
Replying to a question about punitive action against Bangladeshi workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) demonstration issue, he said the workers should be aware of the laws of the country where they live.
“They staged protest in Dubai, defying the law of the UAE and ruined the image of Bangladesh abroad. For this they have been punished for different periods. We will not interfere with convicted expatriates. It is their state affairs,” he added.
The state minister also said that majority of expatriates contributed to the development of Bangladesh. “A vested quarter is trying to destroy labour markets abroad. I think Jamaat-BNP war criminals in 1971 are involved in these anti-state activities.”
