Key facts
- Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urged Malaysia to reopen its labor market to Bangladeshi workers.
- The request was made during talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya.
- Both leaders agreed that recruitment processes should be transparent, fair, and affordable.
- Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the importance of Bangladeshi workers but condemned exploitation and mistreatment.
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has formally requested that Malaysia ease restrictions on hiring Bangladeshi workers. The appeal was made during Rahman's first foreign visit since taking office, during discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya. Rahman sought to broaden bilateral ties while also addressing the issues of undocumented workers and the potential repatriation of detained Bangladeshis.
During a joint press conference, Rahman stated, "We agree that recruitment should be transparent, fair and affordable, reducing the role of intermediaries and lowering the cost of overseas employment." He urged Anwar to consider recruiting more Bangladeshi workers and reopening the labor market as soon as possible.
Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the significant contribution of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia's economy. However, he strongly cautioned that the continued exploitation, mistreatment, and recruitment scandals associated with migrant labor could not be tolerated. "This continued use of workers being exploited, ill-treated and purely used for personal company gains cannot be tolerated," Anwar stated.