Promoting labour migration, wooing investment

Bangladesh's relationship with Malaysia is one of the most vital partnerships in our labour migration and economic cooperation framework. Over the years, Malaysia has become a major destination for Bangladeshi workers, hosting over one million of our citizens who send home substantial amount of remittances. These workers form an essential part of Malaysia's workforce in sectors such as construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and services. However, the long-standing relationship has been punctuated by recurring crises -- the most recent being Malaysia's suspension of manpower recruitment from Bangladesh last year.

This is not the first time such recruitment has been halted. History tells us that Malaysia has, on multiple occasions, stopped hiring Bangladeshi workers due to irregularities in recruitment processes, high recruitment costs, and allegations of human trafficking. One of the most pressing reasons behind these suspensions is the influx of illegal workers, a problem perpetuated by a strong and well-connected syndicate. This syndicate, composed of both Malaysian and Bangladeshi actors, thrives on exploiting desperate job-seekers for hefty profits. The result is harassment, financial ruin, and even the loss of life for thousands of our migrant workers.

Against this troubled backdrop, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus's ongoing visit to Kuala Lumpur carries high expectations. His trip, beginning Monday on the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, offers an opportunity to address these entrenched issues head-on, restore trust, and pave the way for reopening Malaysia's job market to Bangladeshi workers.

According to officials, the primary focus of Dr Yunus's visit is on labour migration and investment. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia at his Office in Putrajaya. This will be followed by delegation-level talks and the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs). The agenda covers a broad spectrum: recruitment of new workers in various Malaysian sectors, increased hiring of skilled professionals, and improving the benefits and facilities available to Bangladeshi workers.

Foreign Ministry officials described this visit as "very important," noting Malaysia's central role in Bangladesh's manpower sector. The hope is to "take our migration sector to a stage where Malaysia takes the maximum number of manpower from us." This requires not only an agreement to lift the current suspension but also reforms that would prevent the same issues from resurfacing.

A significant part of the talks will also focus on securing Malaysian investment in emerging sectors in Bangladesh, such as deep-sea fishing and electronic vehicle (EV) manufacturing. Malaysia's Proton already has a presence in Bangladesh, and with global demand for EVs growing, this could become an important area of cooperation. Beyond jobs for low- and semi-skilled labour, this opens up pathways for technology transfer, skilled employment, and industrial growth back home.

One least discussed aspect of the Bangladesh-Malaysia migration equation is the potential for skilled employment. Hundreds of Bangladeshi students are currently studying at Malaysian institutions, many of them in technical, engineering, and IT-related fields. Yet after graduation, many return home or seek work in other countries due to limited opportunities to work in Malaysia. If the two governments can agree on frameworks that allow these graduates to be absorbed into Malaysia's high-tech industries, the benefits would be twofold: Bangladesh would gain valuable remittance from skilled jobs, and Malaysia would address its own shortage of qualified professionals.

This would also help diversify the profile of Bangladeshi workers abroad. Currently, the bulk of our overseas workers are in low-paid, physically demanding jobs. Increasing the proportion of skilled professionals in the migration mix would not only raise overall remittance volumes but also improve the image of Bangladeshi workers globally.

Dr Yunus's itinerary includes more than just political meetings. There is a major business conference bringing together Malaysian corporate leaders and Bangladeshi entrepreneurs. This is followed by a series of high-level meetings with chief executives of Malaysia's major companies. These engagements are designed to encourage investment partnerships, facilitate joint ventures, and strengthen trade links.

The visit is also set to feature ceremonial and symbolic elements. On August 13, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) will confer an honorary degree on Dr Yunus. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to attend the ceremony. These events will contribute to the public diplomacy aspect of the trip, showcasing mutual respect and goodwill between the two nations.

Three notes of exchange are also expected, covering the halal ecosystem, higher education, and cooperation between the diplomatic training academies of both countries. The breadth of these agreements signals a desire to deepen the bilateral relationship beyond just migration and building a more diversified and resilient partnership.

For all the promise of these agreements, the heart of the matter remains the suspension of manpower recruitment. Any breakthrough in this area will require frank discussions about the governance of migration. Both countries must confront the issues of the role that syndicates play and the political protection they enjoy. A transparent, accountable, and affordable recruitment process is essential. This includes digitalisation of recruitment systems, rigorous background checks for recruiters, and direct government-to-government hiring arrangements to bypass exploitative middlemen.

Bangladesh also needs to strengthen its pre-departure training and worker protection measures. This is to ensure that workers are fully informed about their contracts, rights, and the cost of migration before leaving the country. On the Malaysian side, stricter enforcement against illegal recruitment channels and better monitoring of employers' compliance with labour laws are necessary.

The timing of this visit is critical. The suspension has left tens of thousands of prospective workers in limbo, many of whom have already paid significant sums to recruiters. The frustration among these workers and their families is growing. For the interim government in Dhaka, securing a reopening of Malaysia's job market would be a major political and economic achievement, boosting remittance inflows and easing domestic unemployment pressures.

Moreover, the global labour market is becoming increasingly competitive. Countries such as Nepal, Indonesia, and Vietnam are aggressively expanding their labour export to Malaysia and other destinations. If Bangladesh does not move quickly to resolve its issues, it risks losing market share permanently.

While the immediate priority is resolving the suspension, the longer-term vision should be about building a sustainable migration framework with Malaysia. This means moving from a cycle of crisis and reopening to a stable, predictable flow of workers. It also means aligning migration policies with the changing needs of Malaysia's economy - for example, by increasing the supply of skilled technicians for its growing EV sector, or IT specialists for its expanding digital economy.

Equally important is expanding cooperation in education and vocational training, so that Bangladeshi workers are better prepared for higher-paying jobs. Joint training centres, mutual recognition of qualifications, and targeted scholarship programmes could be part of this approach.

If the visit can deliver concrete agreements on transparent recruitment, stronger labour protections, and expanded economic cooperation, it will go a long way towards resolving the existing problems and preventing future ones. With over a million Bangladeshis already contributing to Malaysia's economy, and countless more hoping to do so, this is a relationship that deserves careful nurturing. The stakes are high, but so is the potential for a win-win outcome.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com