THE Malaysian Human Resources Ministry (MOHR) had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Bangladeshi Government with regard to the recruitment of migrant workers from the latter country.
“This new MoU will be effective for five years until December 2026. It details both Governments’ responsibilities in dealing with Bangladeshi migrant workers, as well recruitment agencies.
“The new MoU will be supervised by a joint-working group (JWG), which will have representation from both countries,” MOHR minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan said, in a statement.
Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare & Overseas Employment Imran Ahmed MP signed the agreement on his Government’s behalf.
Among the measures stipulated in the new deal include compelling employers to provide basic housing and accommodation for their migrant workers, as per the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446).
The measure, Saravanan added, will help alleviate “forced labour” problems related to accommodation issues.
“In line with the Cabinet’s decision on Dec 10 to allow migrant workers’ hiring in other sectors, we have also improved the standard operating procedure (SOP) in the recruitment process,” he stated.
Elaborating on the SOP, Saravanan said it involves four phases which are pre-departure, during arrival, upon arrival (including quarantine period) and post-quarantine.
“At pre-departure, migrant workers must be fully vaccinated and a RT-PCR test must be done on the individual two days before departure. During arrival, they are only allowed to enter through one gateway, which is the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for those embarking on air travel.
“For those entering through Bukit Kayu Hitam, Wang Kelian and Rantau Panjang using land routes, they restricted to vessels crew involving the fishing industry.
“When it comes to the after-arrival phase, the migrant workers must be quarantined in the Klang Valley area for seven days, where they will be tested on the second and fifth day. Post-quarantine, they will be taken to their workplace and go through another testing by FOMEMA Sdn Bhd,” he stressed.
Details please
The Tapah MP remarked: “Based on the MoU, the SOP to manage the intake of migrant workers from Bangladesh will be done by the MOHR, in collaboration with the Healthy Ministry and the National Security Council.”
On related matter, migrant workers’ rights specialist Andy Hall was not impressed with the new deal and panned both ministers for not elaborating the details mentioned in the MoU.
“The statement lacks details on what was actually agreed upon and its related protocols. This lack of transparency gives fear to the return to illicit and syndicated recruitment activities.
“This could lead to systemic debt bondage and forced labour of Bangladeshi workers newly brought into Malaysia under the deal,” he told FocusM.
Hall added:” Both ministers should not stay silent on details of the agreement negotiated when so much is at stake, especially when doubts and distrust still linger on the integrity of the process.” – Dec 19, 2021.
