Between August 2022 and May 2024, a formally structured bilateral framework between Bangladesh and Malaysia facilitated the placement of 4,76,672 Bangladeshi workers — moving nearly half a million people through a five-stage government-supervised pipeline that embedded accountability at every step of the migration corridor.
The MoU That Built the Framework
The Memorandum of Understanding signed on December 19, 2021 between the governments of Bangladesh and Malaysia established the legal and procedural foundation for all subsequent worker movement. Under this agreement, the Malaysian government allocated recruitment quotas through its Auto Allocation System, while demand letters were attested by the Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia and recruitment permissions were issued by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. Malaysian employers paid government levies per worker and separately covered attestation fees, embedding financial accountability at the source of the migration pipeline.
The Five-Stage Pipeline
Stage 1 — Quota Approval
Malaysian employers obtained quota approval from their government and paid the required levy for each worker through the Auto Allocation System.
Stage 2 — Demand Letter Attestation
Demand letters were attested by the Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia, then verified and approved by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Stage 3 — Worker Selection & Medical Examination
Workers were selected under both governments’ approved procedures and underwent health examinations at government-authorized medical centers.
Stage 4 — Visa Processing
Group-based calling visa approvals were obtained from Malaysia’s Immigration Department, followed by individual e-Visa approvals through Malaysia’s online system, collected from the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka.
Stage 5 — Pre-Departure Training & BMET Clearance
Workers completed pre-departure training, received certificates, and obtained final immigration clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) before being permitted to travel.
Accountability Built Into the Architecture
Dual-Government Oversight
Every stage of recruitment — from quota allocation to final visa issuance — was subject to regulatory oversight by both Bangladesh and Malaysia, ensuring no single actor could operate outside established norms.
Bilingual Employment Contracts
Prior to departure, employment contracts in both English and Bengali were signed between employer and worker, supervised by the Malaysian government and the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
BMET as the Final Gate
No worker could enter Malaysia on an e-Visa without first clearing BMET’s immigration process — a final verification step confirming compliance with all applicable laws and procedures.
Post-Placement Agency Accountability
Recruiting agencies retained responsibility beyond departure, remaining accountable for ensuring workers received contracted salaries, allowances, and service benefits throughout their employment period.
What the Model Means for Bangladesh’s Labor Market Access
The MoU-based framework has positioned Bangladesh as a structured partner in Malaysia’s labor market, with further employment opportunities anticipated beyond the May 2024 figure. The government collected taxes and VAT from agencies throughout the process, and BMET collected clearance fees — confirming direct state involvement and revenue generation at every stage. The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment remains the designated channel through which any concerns regarding the immigration process are to be directed, preserving the bilateral relationship that underpins Bangladesh’s access to one of Southeast Asia’s key labor destinations. The 101 enlisted recruiting agencies operated in compliance with the Overseas Employment and Immigration Act, 2013, providing a domestic legal foundation that mirrors the bilateral framework at the international level.
