Turn manpower ban into opportunity

Export of manpower from Bangladesh to Malaysia has been banned. If the objective of the ban is to ensure transparency accountability in the existing procedure, that would not be a matter of concern.

Mahathir’s new administration finds a lack of transparency in the previous government’s procedures to recruit manpower from Bangladesh. There is still hope as Mahathir has said he wants to open the manpower business for all Bangladesh agencies. He has announced to commission headed by a former chief justice or a principal secretary to find a consolidated way to recruit manpower from Bangladesh and Nepal.

We think that this has created an opportunity to resume the manpower recruitment through effective and participatory discussions with the Malaysian government. But, before turning the ban into an opportunity, it is necessary to ensure that the sector is free from syndication.

Malaysia’s private sector, especially rich Malaysia nationals, usually chooses Nepali Gurkhas for personal and home security. This sector is mostly monopolised by the Nepalese. The presence of Bangladeshis and Nepalese in Malaysia, in terms of number, is nearly equal. Bangladeshis were supposed to get more privileges there, so we should consider Mahathir’s new initiative a catalyst, not an obstacle.

Also, out of 15 countries of origin, Malaysia’s former administration chose a syndicate only for Bangladesh. As the syndicate system applied only for Bangladesh, the new administration would naturally have doubts about it.

Bangladesh government’s sources in Dhaka confessed that the syndicate system fails to secure fair deals for manpower export. The syndicate allegedly misappropriated Tk 45 billion of145,000 Bangladeshis in the past one and half years.

The question remains, will behind the fraud go scot-free? Is it possible to ensure their accountability under the laws in both of the countries? If it is possible, this will set a precedent.

Both the governments should give importance to the fact that huge numbers of Bangladeshis have become ‘illegal’ due to discrepancies of the agents and company owners. The legality issue should be resolved quickly. The authorities should ensure that the people won’t be cheated and Bangladesh must find ways to protect those seeking jobs in Malaysia.

We hope the initiative Mahathir’s administration has taken up will be implemented soon. They will add extra vigilance on manpower export from Bangladesh. The leaders of the country always recognise the contribution of Bangladeshi labourers for Malaysia’s development. We expect this to continue.