Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
The recruiting agencies are still charging Tk 1.5 lakh to Tk 2 lakh whereas
the government-fixed rate for sending each worker to Malaysia is only Tk 84,000.
<p>Following allegation of charging extra money from the job seekers, the interim
government dissolved the executive committee of Bangladesh Association of International
Recruiting Agencies (Baira) and arrested its president MAH Salim. Baira’s Kuala
Lumpur office, which allegedly extorted money from the workers, was also closed
down.</p>
<p>Besides, Malaysian high commissioner in Bangladesh at a recent meeting with
the expatriates welfare and overseas employment ministry also requested the
government to look into the issue of charging extra money from the workers.</p>
<p>Sources in the ministry of expatriates welfare and recruiting agencies said
that the cost could not be brought down because of the ‘lobbyist fee’ the agencies
have to pay to some Malaysians for getting the job demand letters.</p>
<p>The issue of ‘lobbyist fee’ came to the attention of the authorities recently
when a so-called Malaysian lobbyist admitted to the Bangladesh High Commission
in Malaysia that he had agreements with six Bangladeshi recruiting agencies
that pledged to pay him Tk 54,000 for managing each job demand letter from the
employers.</p>
<p>The government also collected documents of such agreements, a source in the
foreign ministry said, terming the agreements ‘very unusual.'</p>
<p>According to sources concerned, the so-called lobbyist went to the Bangladesh
High Commission in Kuala Lumpur for securing visa and admitted the fact when
asked about reasons for visiting Bangladesh.</p>
<p>Bangladesh High Commission immediately informed the matter to the home ministry,
which then formed a committee led by an additional secretary and represented
by the officials of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), Directorate
of Passport, intelligence agencies and administrator of Baira to probe into
the matter and submit a report within two months.</p>
<p>Contacted, Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary
Abdul Matin Chowdhury said that they have received a letter in this regard.</p>
<p>"We also formed a committee to identify the reasons behind the high cost
of migration to Malaysia. We hope that the committee will submit its report
within one and a half months at the most. We shall then take decision on the
basis of the recommendations," he told The Daily Star yesterday.</p>
<p>Asked what steps the government would take if the probe discovers that ‘lobbyist
fee’ in a manpower receiving country is the reason behind high cost of migration,
he said, "Let’s get the report first. We’ll not do anything that destroys
our labour market."</p>
<p>Meanwhile, sources concerned said that the law enforcement agencies recently
sought permission from the expatriates’ ministry for raiding the manpower agency
offices, but opted not to go for it immediately as per the ministry advice that
there might be a negative impact on the manpower business.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/05/14/d7051401169.htm</i>
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