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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) — Malaysia and Bangladesh intend to carry out the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia on a government-to-government (G-to-G) arrangement, without the involvement of any third party, agent, outsourcing company or employer.
The Human Resources Ministry said this mechanism would minimise the recruitment cost from RM13,000 to RM1,300, preventing the workers from debt bondage.
“This will also prevent any form of profiteering from human trafficking and smuggling activities,” it said in a statement today to clarify the issue of the recruitment of 12,000 Bangladeshi workers into Sarawak as reported by the media.
Alluding to the visit by Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Anak Jaem to Bangladesh on Aug 18-20, the ministry said it was during this visit that both countries highlighted their intention on the G-to-G recruitment mechanism.
“Employers and employees involved through this mechanism will need to abide by the criteria specified in the memorandum of understanding on matters such as the conduct of security vetting, medical examination, suitability and genuineness of the employer,” it said.
Others aspects include compliance to international labour standards governing minimum wage as well as fair and equitable terms and conditions of employment.
The recruitment of some 12,000 Bangladeshi workers to work in various sectors in Sarawak was mentioned by Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia A. K.M. Atiqur Rahman at a press conference in Kuching on Oct 20.
The ministry’s statement noted that the shortage of workers in the plantation sector left the government with no other alternative but to allow for the recruitment of foreign workers, in this case, those from Bangladesh.
This is to meet the demand of the fast-growing economic development in Sarawak.
“Even so, the demand for 12,000 workers is only an estimation based on feedback from the stakeholders, in particular, the plantation sector in Sarawak,” the ministry said.
It said the recruitment would be done in stages as the actual demand by employers would need to be scrutinised by a committee comprising related government agencies.
The statement pointed out that due to worker shortage, plantation sector employers were compelled to recruit foreign labour to meet their manpower requirements.
“If not for foreign labour, the plantation sector, being one of the mainstays of Sarawak’s economy, would have collapsed,” it added. — BERNAMA
Source: Bernama
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