After a prolonged closure, the government has announced the start of recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for Malaysia. Interested people have been asked to apply through approved recruiting agencies.
The Zero-Cost Offer
Malaysia has agreed in principle to recruit 10,000 Bangladeshi workers at zero cost, following a special request from Dhaka. The first batch will travel on special chartered flights through the state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), without airfare or other migration costs.
Who Is Eligible?
The ministry has not yet published detailed eligibility rules. BOESL’s managing director said workers with the required expertise, experience and fitness would be selected, and that recruitment would focus on skills and employers’ requirements. A Malaysian delegation was expected to visit Dhaka to discuss recruitment criteria, so requirements may change.
How Recruitment Works
A total of 338 agencies can take part. Malaysia directly selected 25 Bangladeshi agencies, and 312 others were allowed to work as associate agencies. Agencies will find employers, collect job demand letters and select workers. After the Malaysian side completes its procedures, the agencies must obtain clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). Workers must also pass health examinations at approved medical centres, and the final list of those centres is still being worked out.
Priority for Stranded Workers
Before new workers go, BOESL plans to send those who could not travel before the market closed. A BOESL official said about 120 to 150 such workers were still waiting.
Beware of Brokers
The ministry has warned people not to pay money, take medical tests or hand over passports to brokers without an official notice. On 1 October, authorities sealed a Dhaka medical centre that was conducting tests for Malaysia-bound workers without approval.
The Bigger Picture
Malaysia restricted recruitment from Bangladesh in 2024 after reports of exploitation, including debt bondage. Bangladesh’s minister has said Malaysia plans to hire about 200,000 workers in phases over six months, with 10,000 of them free of cost.
Discover More Stories Worth Your Time
Are Malaysia jobs for Bangladeshis opening again, and are syndicate fears back?
Find out how Malaysia’s new hiring plan is moving ahead, why agency lists are raising concerns, and what workers should check before paying anyone.
Why is Germany looking at a bigger partnership with Bangladesh?
Read what a German parliamentary delegation discussed in Dhaka, from trade and EU free trade talks to Bhola gas and wider investment.
Can you really get a BRAC Bank loan of up to Tk 5 lakh from your phone?
See who can apply, how the process works, and what to check in the app before taking the BRAC Bank Instant Loan through Shubidha.
How many Saudi-bound flights from Bangladesh were cancelled?
Learn how the disruption left over 15,000 passengers affected and what the Saudi flight cancellations mean for travellers.
Is Bangladesh’s lost “woven air” really making a comeback?
Explore how a government-led effort is working to revive the famous fabric in the Dhakai Muslin revival project.
