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 adviser told a weekly press briefing that the government
had set up a coordination committee with officials from the ministries of Foreign
Affairs, Labour & Employment and Civil Aviation as well as the Passport and
Immigration Department to resolve problems in sending more skilled manpower abroad.
<P>Of
the 105,000 workers, 26,000 got clearance from the Malaysian authorities and 18,000
had already left for Kuala Lumpur.</P><P>Presently, some 300,000 Bangladeshi workers
are employed in Malaysia.</P><P>The Foreign Affairs adviser assured that appropriate
steps are being taken against the unscrupulous manpower agencies for forgery and
harassment while sending Bangladeshi workers abroad as the present government
is engaged in combating corruption.</P><P>He said the Labour Wings in Bangladesh
Missions abroad are being strengthened while Consul Generals or Honorary Consuls
would be appointed wherever necessary to boost the manpower export.</P><P>Bangladesh
receives remittances of more than US$ 5.0 billion annually from the expatriate
workers.</P><P>So far, some 5.0 million skilled and unskilled Bangladeshi workers
have gone abroad since 1976.</P><P>Asked about sending housemaids on job to foreign
countries, Labour and Employment Secretary Ashfaq Hamid said there is a demand
from Muslim countries for housemaids from Bangladesh.</P><P>About the requirement
of Hong Kong visa by Bangladeshi travellers who earlier enjoyed on-arrival visa,
acting Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain said the Hong Kong authorities introduced
the visa system not only for Bangladeshis but for other neighbouring countries
as well as to stop entry of dishonest people.</P><P><I>Source: http://www.financialexpress-bd.com/index3.asp?cnd=2/15/2007&section_id=3&newsid=52659&spcl=no</I>
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