16,970 Migrant Workers Fail to Reach Malaysia by May 31 Deadline Due to Mismanagement

A significant number of Bangladeshi migrant workers, totaling 16,970, failed to reach Malaysia by the May 31 deadline as a result of mismanagement by government authorities and local recruiting agents. This issue has prompted the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to take immediate action.

The Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET) had approved 493,642 workers to go to Malaysia, but a considerable number of them could not make the trip. In response, the ministry has formed a six-member committee led by Additional Secretary Noor Md Mahbubul Haq to investigate the issues.

State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury emphasized accountability, stating, "Those who are responsible will be brought to book." The committee is expected to submit its report within seven working days, and subsequent steps will be taken based on its recommendations.

The crisis has been exacerbated by the negligence of local recruiting agents and the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira). Minister Chowdhury blamed Baira for failing to provide a demand list for arranging flights, which contributed to the chaos.

Why this matters: The mismanagement of labor migration from Bangladesh has significant implications for the country's economy and the welfare of its citizens. If not addressed, it could lead to further exploitation of migrant workers and damage to Bangladesh's reputation as a source of labor.

Additionally, the ministry will meet with the Malaysian High Commissioner in Dhaka on June 5 to decide on the next steps to resume the Malaysian labor market. The government has also assured that money will be returned to workers who failed to go to Malaysia, as reported by Free Malaysia Today.

The mismanagement has had severe repercussions for the migrant workers, many of whom mortgaged land, sold livestock, and borrowed money to pay recruiting agents. Anisul Islam from Manikganj expressed his disappointment, saying, "It was my dream to go to Malaysia and get a well-paying job so that I could provide financial stability for my family. My dreams have now been dashed as I failed to arrive in the country within the deadline."

Malaysia had set the May 31 deadline for Bangladeshi workers as part of a labor recruitment agreement signed in December 2021. However, the process has been marred by allegations of exploitation and corruption, with reports of migrants paying exorbitant fees to recruiting agents.

In response to these issues, the government is working to ensure that such incidents do not recur. The ministry's secretary, Md Ruhul Amin, urged affected workers to file complaints with the probe committee, stating, "Based on the recommendations of the committee, the ministry would set the next plan of action."

The failure to send 16,970 migrant workers to Malaysia by the deadline has highlighted significant flaws in the management of labor migration from Bangladesh, as reported by The Report Live. The outcome of the investigation will determine what measures will be implemented to prevent such failures in the future.

Key Takeaways

• 16,970 Bangladeshi migrant workers failed to reach Malaysia by May 31 deadline.
• Mismanagement by government authorities and local recruiting agents blamed.
• Ministry forms 6-member committee to investigate and take action.
• Government assures refund to affected workers and plans to resume Malaysian labor market.
• Incident highlights flaws in labor migration management, sparking calls for accountability.