The Malaysian government has approved new employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers through the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL). This decision primarily targets those who were selected but unable to migrate by May 31, 2023. The recruitment will focus on the construction and tourism sectors.
The announcement was made on Friday (August 1) by the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur through an official notice.
According to the High Commission, the process of attesting demand letters has commenced to facilitate the recruitment of these workers. Employers are required to submit all necessary documents on the Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS) online portal, following a specified checklist.
Required Documents Include:
-
A company authorization letter signed by a manager or higher-level officer
-
The original bank slip of the attestation fee submitted to the Bangladesh High Commission
-
Recent salary slips of 4-5 workers
-
A company profile that includes current employee statistics (local and foreign), mobile numbers of 2-3 Bangladeshi workers (if applicable), and the last three months’ bank statements. The bank balance must be adequate—e.g., at least MYR 200,000 for hiring 100 workers
Additional documents include samples of the Foreign Workers Compensation Scheme (SOCSO) and Hospitalization & Surgical Scheme; a certificate related to worker accommodation (JTK certificate); construction contracts; commitment or guarantee letters; demand letters signed by company directors; power of attorney; appointment letters; agreements between BOESL and the employer; and the quota approval letter issued by relevant Malaysian authorities.
The High Commission also urged stakeholders to submit the original copies and one photocopy set of all documents to the mission office after uploading them online.
After a prolonged period of uncertainty and administrative delays, this move signals that Malaysia’s labor market is once again becoming conditionally accessible to Bangladeshi workers. According to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, recruitment may resume under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which emphasizes quota limits, cost regulation, and transparent hiring processes.
Sources further report that Malaysia intends to implement a “selective recruitment” model—only allowing recruitment through registered and government-approved agencies. A draft action plan has been prepared by the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources, with Bangladesh proposing several revisions.
A senior official from the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) said, “We seek a transparent and lawful migration process, leaving no room for middlemen or syndicates.” He added that Bangladesh has proposed capping worker migration costs, setting a defined timeline for medical and visa processing, and making employer verification mandatory.
A high-ranking Bangladeshi official confirmed that the country has agreed to suspend investigations into alleged exploitation of workers in Malaysia. The decision was made during a bilateral meeting held in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago between officials from both countries.
An official from the Bangladesh Embassy in Malaysia stated that a final decision is expected during a joint working group meeting in the second week of August.
Analysts emphasize that to maintain Bangladesh's position in Malaysia’s labor market, strong monitoring mechanisms are needed to prevent corruption and irregularities—not just signing agreements but ensuring their transparent implementation.
