Govt approves 338 recruiting agencies for recruitment process; Thanks to the Prime Minister of Malaysia for the cooperationMM Rahmatullah: Malaysia has agreed in principle to recruit 10,000 Bangladeshi workers free of cost and include 338 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies in its recruitment framework, marking a significant step towards reopening the country’s labour market for Bangladesh.The development follows diplomatic efforts by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and discussions with his Malaysian counterpart, with the Malaysian government and the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka expected to play important roles in advancing the recruitment process.According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment on Thursday, the latest initiative is aimed at expanding employment opportunities, reducing migration costs and ensuring a more transparent and regulated recruitment system for Bangladeshi workers.The government has expressed gratitude to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the relevant Malaysian authorities for their cooperation in facilitating the process and advancing bilateral labour relations.Malaysia remains one of the major destinations for Bangladeshi migrant workers. The reopening of its labour market is therefore expected to bring renewed hope to thousands of jobseekers and families dependent on overseas employment and remittances.Under the proposed arrangement, 338 Bangladeshi agencies will be included in the recruitment framework. These comprise the state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), 25 private processing or service agencies and 312 recruiting agencies.The Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources will select and enlist the agencies according to its prescribed eligibility criteria. Once approved, the agencies will be able to identify employers in Malaysia, collect job demand letters and recruit eligible workers from Bangladesh in line with the applicable rules.The Malaysian authorities have also agreed in principle to recruit 10,000 Bangladeshi workers without charging them recruitment-related costs following a special request from Bangladesh. The initiative is expected to ease the financial burden on migrant workers and make overseas employment more accessible to people from lower-income families.However, the agreement in principle does not mean that the workers can depart immediately. Recruitment, visa processing, medical examinations and other formalities must be completed before their deployment.The Malaysian High Commission in Bangladesh is expected to remain an important point of contact in facilitating coordination between the two countries, alongside the relevant Malaysian ministries and Bangladeshi authorities. The completion of the necessary procedures will be crucial to translating the agreement into actual employment opportunities.Under the proposed process, the approved recruiting agencies will identify employers and collect job demand letters. BOESL and the 25 designated processing or service agencies will assist with administrative procedures, including visa and e-visa processing.After the required procedures in Malaysia are completed, the recruiting agencies will carry out the remaining formalities in Bangladesh under the country's existing laws and regulations. Each approved agency will be able to obtain clearance for its workers from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) under its own licence.The ministry has also clarified that BOESL and the designated processing or service agencies will be able to issue no-objection certificates to the approved recruiting agencies to facilitate the process.The inclusion of 338 agencies is expected to broaden participation in recruitment and reduce dependence on a limited number of operators. The government, however, has stressed the importance of legal compliance, transparency and the protection of workers' interests.The latest development follows an earlier initiative to assess the eligibility of Bangladeshi recruiting agencies for the Malaysian labour market. Under the memorandum of understanding signed between Bangladesh and Malaysia on December 18, 2022, Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources is responsible for selecting and listing Bangladeshi agencies according to its prescribed criteria.As part of the earlier process, Bangladesh submitted a list of 423 recruiting agencies, along with the required documents, to the Malaysian authorities for consideration. Following the formation of the present government, diplomatic discussions continued to secure the reopening of the market and expand employment opportunities.Despite the progress, the finalisation of the list of authorised medical centres for Malaysia-bound workers remains pending.Under the existing agreement, both countries share responsibility for finalising the list of approved medical centres. Bangladesh has requested changes to the existing arrangements to facilitate a faster reopening of the labour market.The final approval of a revised list is expected after an on-site inspection by a joint delegation representing Malaysia's ministries of health, human resources and home affairs. As the inspection process will take time, the two sides have decided to begin operations through the remaining centres on Malaysia's existing approved list, excluding centres associated with allegations of irregularities and controversy.A Malaysian delegation is expected to visit Bangladesh as soon as possible to inspect and assess medical centres under the revised guidelines. Bangladeshi authorities will also monitor the centres listed on the relevant Malaysian website, and centres found involved in irregularities may be required to suspend operations.New medical centres may be added in phases, with updated information published through the relevant website and the ministry. The government has also made it clear that no single medical centre will receive exclusive authority to conduct health examinations for Malaysia-bound workers.The measures are intended to prevent monopolistic practices, strengthen oversight and ensure that workers have access to an approved medical screening system.Reducing migration costs remains a major priority for Bangladesh. Many prospective workers depend on loans, family savings or the sale of assets to finance overseas employment. Excessive recruitment charges can leave them burdened with debt even before they begin earning abroad.The proposed recruitment of 10,000 workers free of cost could offer substantial relief to selected workers and their families if implemented effectively and without unauthorised charges.The government has urged recruiting agencies to follow national laws and safeguard workers throughout the recruitment process. Jobseekers should verify agency credentials, confirm employment terms, obtain official receipts for lawful payments and avoid unverified intermediaries.The reopening initiative also highlights the importance of close cooperation between Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur. Continued engagement between the two governments, the Malaysian High Commission in Bangladesh and the relevant recruitment authorities will be essential to resolving outstanding issues and ensuring a smooth implementation process.The government has described the initiative as a new chapter in labour cooperation between the two countries and thanked the Malaysian prime minister, the Ministry of Human Resources and other relevant authorities for their support.For Bangladesh, the successful reopening of the Malaysian labour market would strengthen overseas employment opportunities, support remittance earnings and improve the livelihoods of families across the country.The immediate priority is to complete the remaining procedures and ensure that the promised recruitment opportunities are delivered through a transparent, affordable and accountable system. The success of the initiative will ultimately depend on effective monitoring, fair employment conditions and firm action against recruitment-related irregularities.For thousands of Bangladeshi jobseekers, the latest progress offers renewed hope of working in Malaysia without facing the heavy financial burden traditionally associated with overseas migration.