Malaysia is trying to 'syndicate' the labor market

 

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Bangladesh and Malaysia on manpower export on December 19.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Bangladesh and Malaysia on manpower export on December 19.

Malaysia's labor market has been closed for three-and-a-half years due to a cycle of syndicate corruption. That cycle has become active again when the market is reopened. They are working hard to take control of this labor market.

However, the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh is not agreeing to this. So now there is an attempt to control the issue of sending workers exclusively from Malaysia.

The cycle has kept the Malaysian labor market closed for more than three and a half years. It is hard to believe that 25 agencies have more power than the state.

Tasnim Siddiqui, Founder Chair, Ramru

Leaders of a number of recruiting agency owners' organizations say the Ministry of Overseas Employment is not working to stop the syndicate, even if it does not agree to control the sending of workers. Instead, they are moving forward with the strategy of avoiding liability. The ministry wants to hand over the responsibility of the proposed 25 recruiting agencies to the Malaysian government instead of the list itself. Concerned parties say that the Malaysian labor market will be controlled by the syndicate.

On December 19, Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia on manpower export. Malaysia is now talking about sending 25 workers without leaving the issue of sending workers open to all recruiting agencies. In a letter to the Minister for Expatriate Welfare on January 14, Malaysia's Human Resources Minister M Saravanan said the two countries had agreed at a meeting in February last year to have 25 agencies and 10 agencies each as sub-agents.

A memorandum of understanding was signed with Malaysia on December 19 on manpower export.

There are 1,520 recruiting agencies in the country.

Malaysia is talking about giving responsibility to 25 people without leaving the issue of sending workers open to everyone.

When asked, Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmed told Prothom Alo that there is no such memorandum of understanding. Such an offer was made by Malaysia. Bangladesh did not agree.

Asked if Malaysia would comply with the list of specific agencies, the minister said, "It is up to them (Malaysia) to decide how to distribute from the 1,520 agencies." If they move towards limitation, then we will be caught in the competition law. 'He added,' I have not received any proposal from the syndicate so far. When it comes, it will be discussed in the meeting of the joint technical committee. '

Meanwhile, a counter letter was sent to the Malaysian minister on January 17 by the ministry. It cites the International Labor Organization (ILO) Charter and Bangladesh's Competition Act-2012, which raises the issue of delegating responsibilities to certain agencies.

Two responsible officials of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare told Prothom Alo that Malaysia has not officially announced anything after sending the list of 1,520 agencies. The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare will not object if the country informally gives the opportunity to a specific agency.

Prothom Alo spoke to the owners of eight recruiting agencies about the matter. All in all, they say, the point is that a cycle is being allowed to trade freely.

Tipu Sultan, president of the Recruiting Agencies Unity Council, said giving Malaysia a chance to list would help create the cycle.

Nepal's Supreme Court lawyer Shome Lutel was asked what rules Nepal follows when sending workers to Malaysia. The immigration lawyer told Prothom Alo that there are 656 recruiting agencies operating in the country. There are equal opportunities for all.

In 2016, an organization called Cinarflex got the job of online recruitment structure in Malaysia. Abdul Bin Amin Noor, a Malaysian citizen of Bangladeshi descent, owns the company. With his help, 10 agencies of the country formed a circle. The clique then collects two to three and a half lakh rupees from the workers instead of the government-fixed 33,375 rupees.

Prothom Alo spoke to the owners of eight recruiting agencies about the matter. All in all, they say, the point is that a cycle is being allowed to trade freely.

Sources in Baira, a recruiting agency owners' organization, say Abdul Bin Amin is once again helping to create the cycle from Malaysia. Ruhul Amin, the owner of Catharsis International is leading in Bangladesh. However, he claimed that propaganda was being spread against him.

Recruiting agency owners have been protesting against the formation of multiple organizations through press conferences, human chains and giving memorandums. Former Secretary General of Baira Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury told Prothom Alo that there is no way forward for Malaysia without Bangladeshi workers. This opportunity must be used by the government.

According to BMET data, from 1992 to 2016, 1.5 million Bangladeshis went to Malaysia legally for work.

Chairperson Tasnim Siddiqui, founder of Ramru, a private research institute in the immigration sector, thinks that the licenses of the agencies involved in the cycle should be suspended. He said in the first light, the cycle has closed the Malaysian labor market for more than three and a half years. It is hard to believe that 25 agencies have more power than the state.