Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia are happy over the latest announcement of the Malaysian government agreeing to extend the Labour Recalibration Programme to employers in four sub-sectors.
The programme will regularise illegal immigrants in Malaysia as foreign workers who could be employed by eligible employers.
The Malaysian government’s decision has brought smiles to illegal immigrants in the restaurant, cargo, wholesale and retail, and cleaning service sub-sectors of that country. The decision will also help the Bangladeshi migrant workers get rid of any middlemen or agents making the entire process transparent and getting jobs without any hassle.
Nasreen Jahan, Joint Secretary at Immigration and Welfare wing of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, on Saturday told Bangladesh Post that Malaysia has made a good decision, which will benefit the Bangladeshi expatriates living in Malaysia. Several lakh undocumented Bangladeshi nationals working in Malaysia will get an opportunity for regularisation following extension of the Labour Recalibration Programme, she added.
Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin made the announcement two days ago. He said that the eligibility for participation in the labour recalibration programme has also been extended to illegal immigrants who had registered for the Rehiring Programme and the Comprehensive Settlement Programme for Illegal Immigrants.
According to his announcement, the programme will allow undocumented workers from 15 countries, including Bangladesh, in the country in four sectors. The programme has been launched aiming to regularise the foreign workforce in the country without the involvement of third parties. The participation has also been extended to illegal immigrants who have absconded from their employers but were not reported by the latter, and those who have genuine and valid travel documents.
Some Bangladeshi expatriates said that the expansion of the Labour Recalibration Programme is certainly a good news for the Bangladeshi expatriates, as many employers now have to recruit labourers, while many illegal Bangladeshi will be legal following the decision.
Talking to Bangladesh Post on Saturday, Atikur Rahman, a resident of Islampur upazila in Jamalpur who lives in Malaysia, said, “The announcement of the Malaysian government provides an opportunity for us. Many Bangladeshi labourers will get jobs following the decision without the involvement of third parties.”
Afzal Hossain, a Malaysian expatriate who is a permanent resident of Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet, said that employers now could apply for legality of labourers of 15 countries, including Bangladesh, for four sub-sectors. Any illegal migrant can return to his country on some conditions following the decision. It is really a good news for Bangladeshi migrants, he added.
According to agency reports, the decision was made to help the Malaysian government revive the country’s economy immediately, and to prevent critical sectors such as construction, manufacturing, plantations and services from suffering huge losses due to a labour shortage.
Migration experts said that the latest decision of the Malaysian government would create new job opportunities in that country. But the migrants should remain careful so that they are not victims of cheating like in previous years. Many brokers will become active for cheating with Bangladeshi migrants.
There are around one million Bangladeshis now working in Malaysian. However, there is no specific information about how many undocumented Bangladeshis are staying in that country.
