The Human Resources Minister, V. Sivakumar, has stated that while the government prioritizes local workers, the final decision to hire foreign workers rests with the employers. Sivakumar was responding to a news portal report about foreign workers from Bangladesh, stating that employers have the authority to select workers and determine the country of origin based on the specific needs of their industry. The government only sets criteria for employment and does not interfere in the selection process. Besides Bangladesh, Malaysia has 14 other source countries from which employers can choose foreign workers, as a trading nation that values their contribution to the economy.
Sivakumar also clarified that there were misconceptions about the recruitment process and quota allocation for workers from Bangladesh, which negatively affected employment procedures. He emphasized that the government does not tolerate human suffering and is committed to upholding workers’ rights and welfare.
In a report, migrant rights activist Andy Hall expressed concern over the plight of Bangladeshi workers who arrived in Malaysia. Hall claimed that over 300,000 Bangladeshis entered Malaysia within two years, many of whom ended up in “modern slavery” due to the high costs of recruitment. According to Hall, the recruitment fees paid by Bangladeshi workers exceeded US$6,000 (RM28,140) per person, and even other foreign nationals faced soaring costs. He also highlighted the issue of syndicates bringing in Bangladeshi workers who were then left without employment.
Reports from Bangladesh stated that in August alone, the country experienced its highest monthly labor export, with over 138,600 workers leaving, of which 46,105 went to Malaysia.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
