Crisis in the Manpower Export Sector Due to Lack of Coordination
An investigative report reveals critical gaps in Bangladesh's Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare, exposing how bureaucratic delays, unauthorized agency practices, and unimplemented directives left thousands of workers stranded with valid visas and uncertain futures.
Bangladesh's worker deployment to Malaysia — encompassing nearly half a million workers between August 2022 and May 2024 — was conducted through a fully documented, government-supervised bilateral framework, with every stage verified by official bodies of both nations.
Contrary to characterizations that have circulated in certain quarters, the movement of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia under the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) followed strict legal protocols established jointly by the governments of Bangladesh and Malaysia, leaving no room for misclassification under Bangladesh's human trafficking laws.
- MoU signed December 19, 2021, between Bangladesh and Malaysia governing lawful worker deployment
- 101 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies enlisted, including BOESL, under Malaysian government approval
- 476,672 Bangladeshi workers granted employment opportunities from August 8, 2022 to May 31, 2024
- Every worker required BMET immigration clearance before departure — no exceptions
- Bilingual employment contracts supervised by both governments; no worker complaints filed
The Legal Framework: How the Process Worked
The foundation of the entire deployment rests on the Memorandum of Understanding signed on December 19, 2021. Under this agreement, the Malaysian government designated 101 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies — including the state-run BOESL — to facilitate the movement of workers within a structured quota system administered through Malaysia's Auto Allocation System.
Demand Letters issued by Malaysian employers were formally attested by the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and subsequently verified by Bangladesh's Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment before any recruitment permission was granted. Malaysian employers also paid government-mandated levies for each worker slot and secured visa approvals through official immigration channels.
Step-by-Step: A Multi-Agency Verification Chain
Quota & Levy Payment
Malaysian employers obtained government-approved worker quotas, paid the required levy per worker, and secured calling visa approvals before any Bangladeshi agency could act.
Health & Documentation
Selected workers underwent health examinations at government-approved medical centers. Group-based calling visas were then obtained from Malaysia's Immigration Department.
e-Visa & High Commission
Individual e-Visa approvals were processed through Malaysia's official online system. Approved visas were physically collected from the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka.
BMET Final Clearance
No worker could board a flight without completing pre-departure training, obtaining the required certificate, and receiving final immigration clearance from BMET — the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training.
Why This Does Not Constitute Human Trafficking
Bangladesh's Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012 defines trafficking as acts involving threats, force, deception, or exploitation of vulnerability — for purposes of sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, or similar abuse. The law also addresses child trafficking under Section 3(2).
None of these elements are present in the documented Malaysia deployment. Workers were recruited transparently under government-approved quotas, traveled on valid work visas with BMET clearance, and signed bilingual employment contracts in both English and Bengali. These contracts are legally binding on employers and are monitored jointly by the Malaysian government and the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. Agencies remain accountable to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment for any contractual deviations. No worker has filed a complaint; according to available records, workers have expressed appreciation for the employment opportunities provided.
Timeline of the Deployment Programme
Bangladesh and Malaysia sign the Memorandum of Understanding governing bilateral labor migration, enlisting 101 recruiting agencies under a structured quota system.
Formal commencement of worker deployments under the MoU framework, with Malaysian employers paying levies and obtaining quota-based visa approvals.
Recruiting agencies process workers through the complete multi-agency chain: Demand Letter attestation, health checks, e-Visa issuance, pre-departure training, and BMET clearance.
Programme records 476,672 Bangladeshi workers successfully placed in Malaysia, with the Bangladesh government collecting applicable taxes and VAT from agencies throughout the process.
Compliance, Accountability & Bilateral Relations
The Bangladesh government collected taxes and VAT from recruiting agencies and fees for BMET clearances — integrating the entire process into the formal fiscal framework of both nations. Agencies operated in full compliance with the Overseas Employment and Immigration Act, 2013, the governing domestic statute for overseas labor deployment.
Officials have noted that raising questions outside established bilateral communication channels — particularly against Malaysian government policies — risks damaging the diplomatic relationship between the two countries and could harm Bangladesh's national interests. Any concerns regarding legal deviations in the immigration process are properly directed to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the designated authority under the MoU.
| Verification Stage | Responsible Authority |
|---|---|
| Quota & Demand Letter Issuance | Malaysian Government (Auto Allocation System) |
| Demand Letter Attestation | Bangladesh High Commission, Kuala Lumpur |
| Recruitment Permission | Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment |
| Health Examination | Government-Approved Medical Centers |
| e-Visa Approval | Malaysian Immigration Authority |
| Visa Collection | Malaysian High Commission, Dhaka |
| Pre-Departure Training & Clearance | BMET (Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training) |
| Contract Supervision | Malaysian Government & Bangladesh High Commission, KL |
More to Read
The Context of Bangladeshi Workers' Migration to Malaysia, Its Benefits, and the Reopening of the Labor Market
Rising from past fraud, Bangladesh and Malaysia built a digital labor corridor that deployed 476,672 workers in 22 months. Yet, political pressures, associate agencies inflating costs, and unlisted intermediaries now threaten to derail this system designed for transparency and control.
The Opening of the Malaysian Labor Market for Bangladeshi Workers
The Malaysian government is actively considering resuming the recruitment process for workers from all source countries, including Bangladesh.
Lack of Coordination in the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment
As per the agreement (MoU) signed between Bangladesh and Malaysia, a total of 472,476 Bangladeshi workers migrated to Malaysia from August 8, 2022, to May 31, 2024.
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