20th Sept 2024: Prothmalo – Aminul and Ruhul Amin involved in alleged migrant worker syndicate money ‘laundering’ to Malaysia
Aminul and Ruhul Amin involved in alleged migrant worker syndicate money ‘laundering’ to Malaysia. The syndicate has laundered a huge amount of money and the total laundered money will stand at Tk 87.50 billion.
Original Source: Prothmalo by Mohiuddin Dhaka – 19th September 2024
Allegations have been raised that Tk 100,000 has been taken as a migrant worker syndicate fee from each Malaysia-bound worker and about Tk 50 billion has been laundered in this way.
Moreover, Tk 37.50 billion has been laundered in the name of visa trade.
All recruitment agencies in Bangladesh were not allowed to send workers to Malaysia.
Out of more than 1,500 agencies, a syndicate of 100 agencies had been formed.
20th Sept 2024: Scoop – MACC’s Bestinet probe is ‘NFA’, no proof of other money-laundering claims: Azam Baki
Original Source: Scoop – 20th September 2024
Anti-graft chief Tan Sri Azam Baki says no evidence of criminal activity found in IT firm handling Putrajaya’s foreign worker management system
According to a survey conducted by Verite Incorporated and four other companies (May 2023), members of this migrant worker syndicate charged an average of Tk 5,44,000 per worker instead of the government-specified cost of Tk 79,000.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, owners of two recruiting agencies involved in the migrant worker syndicate revealed how additional money was taken from them and laundered to Malaysia.
They said two controllers of the migrant worker syndicate are: Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor who is Bangladeshi-born Malaysian citizen. His representative in Bangladesh is Mohammad Ruhul Amin alias Swapon.
The Malaysian labour market for Bangladeshis has been closed repeatedly due to sending workers through the migrant worker syndicate, bribery and money laundering. Sending workers to the Malaysian labour market recently came to a halt in May. Malaysia is one of Bangladesh’s largest labour markets.
The Human Resource Development Center, while not part of the migrant worker syndicate, has been sending workers through other agencies.
Fakhrul Islam, managing director of the center and joint secretary of the recruiting agency organisation BAIRA, told Prothom Alo that the agency through which they sent workers charged a migrant worker syndicate fee of Tk 1,52,000 for each worker under the pretext of issuing BMET clearance certificates.
In reality, the actual cost of obtaining this certificate is only Tk 6,000. He further mentioned that additional costs for air tickets and other expenses had to be borne separately. As a result, the overall migration costs have increased.
How the migrant worker syndicate operates
Names of aspirant migrants have to be registered in a software to send workers to Malaysia. The name of the software is the Foreign Workers Central Management System (FWCMS).
This system is owned by Bestinet, a company managed by Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor.
Recruitment agency owners said that the registration fee per worker is 100 Malaysian Ringgit (approximately Tk 2,700), but they are charged around Tk 1,07,000.
Of the amount, Tk 7,000 is retained by a local collection agency, and the remaining Tk 1,00,000 taka is sent to Bestinet in Malaysia through illegal channels.
The Migrant software lists only those companies that are part of the migrant worker syndicate. Members of the syndicate are required to pay a 100 Ringgit fee per worker through e-wallet transactions.
According to two recruitment agency owners, after depositing Tk 1,07,000 per worker, Bestinet allows payment of the 100 Ringgit fee through e-wallet; otherwise, the transaction does not proceed. Control over the software remains with the migrant worker syndicate.
Two members of the Malaysian migrant worker syndicate claim that Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor demands extra payment under the pretext of bribing various officials in Malaysia.
His representative in Bangladesh, Ruhul Amin, owns an agency named Catharsis International.
Payments had to be made at their Dhaka office on Madani Avenue, where employees routinely handled large sums of money.
Attempts were made to take comment on allegations from Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor, but this was not possible.
Ruhul Amin also was not available for comment. He is believed to have left the country following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August.
Earlier, on 20 June, speaking to Prothom Alo, he said, allegations of taking and laundering money are false. Why will everyone give me money, am I so powerful? Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor is also a businessman. How will the businessmen have control over the labour market?
He said, all approvals were granted by the governments of the two countries and all agencies have applied to Malaysia. There was strong lobbying. The agencies, which have good connections in Malaysia, have got approval.
However, ordinary recruiting agents said that except Bangladesh, all agencies in other countries can send workers to Malaysia.
Some Bangladeshi businesses have created a migrant worker syndicate through illegal transactions in Malaysia, and the Bangladeshi government has not taken action.
Complaints about Bestinet’s irregularities were filed with Bangladesh expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry in 2023.
The ministry sent a letter to the Bangladesh high commission in Malaysia on 9 May 2023 to take actions on the basis of allegations of recruiting agencies and employers after discussing with the Malaysian government.
A number of recruiting agencies made allegations to the ministry due to the lack of e-wallet top-ups (money deposits) from Bestinet.
Employers companies in Malaysia also informed the home ministry of the matter. They also sent copies of the letters to the Bangladesh expatriates welfare ministry.
BAIRA also sent a letter to the expatriates’ welfare ministry, raising similar allegations.
On the basis of that letter, the expatriates welfare ministry sent a letter to the Bangladesh high commission in Malaysia on 2 January.
According to the letter, most of the recruiting agencies selected through FWCMS don’t have adequate facilities and capacity to collect workers and send them.
The automatic selection of recruiting agents has created an opportunity for associated agencies to impose high immigration costs. Additionally, despite the presence of 12 approved visa centres for e-visas, only the Dhaka office of the FWCMS issues e-visas through the Malaysia Employment Facilitation Center (MEFC). The letter requests arrangements for visa issuance from multiple centres.
Sources said that the MEFC office is located at the Catharsis Tower in Banani, Dhaka. Passports for workers heading to Malaysia have been submitted there, and the agencies have collected the passports from that location.
Ruhul Amin’s connection with Bestinet
Investigations by Prothom Alo have unearthed a business relationship between Bestinet’s Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor and Ruhul Amin of Catharsis.
According to Bangladesh’s Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), Bestinet Malaysia registered in Bangladesh on 24 March 2014, establishing a company named Bestinet Bangladesh Limited. Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor served as the Chairman, and Ruhul Amin was the managing director.
Initially, Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor held 10,000 of the 12,000 shares in Bestinet Bangladesh Limited, while Ruhul Amin held 2,000 shares.
On 28 March 2019, Aminul transferred all his shares to Ruhul Amin, with Ruhul’s brother Saiful Islam joining as a director. In 2022, the company name was changed to Catharsis Solutions Limited.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Ruhul Amin said there is no connection between the Malaysian Malaysian Bestinet and Bangladeshi Bestinet. This is a separate company. Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor left the partnership due to a lack of business prospects in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, on 28 May, SM Rafique, managing director of the recruiting agency United Export Limited, submitted a letter to the prime minister’s office, raising allegations of laundering money to Malaysia.
According to the letter, Ruhul Amin, also known as Swapna, and his Malaysian partner Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nor are the main masterminds of money laundering from Bangladesh to Malaysia.
Rafique told Prothom Alo that every agency involved in the scheme was required to deposit Tk 107,000 per worker at the Catharsis office.
Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), speaking to Prothom Alo, said employers in neighboring countries bear the cost of sending workers, Bangladesh’s system is different. The government has allowed to happen this unabated.
He has termed this reprehensible and inhumane, saying there is a migrant worker syndicate in Malaysia and their representatives in Bangladesh.
Iftekharuzzaman said the ongoing issue is part of a larger illegal operation that exploits migrant workers and the state. Until those responsible are identified and punished, such operations are likely to continue.
20th Sept 2024: Malaysiakini – Bestinet denies money laundering allegations
*This article, originally published in Prothom Alo print and online editions, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.
Original Source: Malaysiakini by Nantha Kumar – 20th September 2024
Bestinet Sdn Bhd, which runs the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS), denied allegations it was involved in money laundering through its founder Aminul Islam Abdul Nor.
This follows a Bangladeshi media report claiming that Aminul, who is a Malaysian citizen of Bangladeshi origin, is one of the key figures in a migrant worker syndicate that allegedly handled RM306 million in bringing workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia.
“Bestinet denies the existence of any migrant worker syndicate supposedly controlled by Aminul or anyone else within our jurisdiction.
“Our company operates independently and fully complies with the relevant laws of both the Malaysian and Bangladeshi governments.
“Aminul is not involved in any part of Bestinet’s operations,” Bestinet CEO Ismail Mohd Noor told Malaysiakinitoday.
Earlier, the news portal Prothom Aloalleged that Aminul and his representative in Bangladesh, Mohammad Ruhul Amin, also known as “Swapon”, were the two key figures responsible for bringing migrant workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia.
According to the report, the syndicate allegedly takes Tk100,000 (RM3,500) as fees from each worker, totalling Tk50 billion (RM175 million).
Meanwhile, a separate visa syndicate allegedly raked in Tk37.50 billion (RM131 million).
However, Ismail refuted these claims, saying Bestinet only charges RM100 per application.
“The fee structure mentioned in the article is incorrect. We are authorised by the Malaysian government to charge RM100 per application, but only if the worker passes the security check.
“If they fail the security check, we will refund the fees. We do not charge any migrant worker syndicate fees. We only collect the amount allowed by the Malaysian government,” he said.
Denying the allegations
On June 20, Prothom Alo also quoted Swapon denying allegations of money laundering.
“Why will everyone give me money, am I so powerful? Aminul Islam is also a businessperson. How will the businesspersons have control over the labour market?” he was quoted as saying.
He reportedly said all approvals were granted by the governments of the two countries and all agencies have applied to Malaysia.
He claimed there was strong lobbying, and the agencies with good connections in Malaysia have been approved.
Meanwhile, Ismail also dismissed any allegations of financial misconduct by Bestinet.
“As I mentioned earlier, FWCMS is a legitimate platform designed to improve the migrant worker management process in Malaysia.
“All fees we charge are official and come with invoices. We strictly adhere to the regulations of both the Malaysian and Bangladeshi governments,” he said.
Accused of controlling recruitment process within migrant worker syndicate
Bestinet is an IT company founded in 2013 by Aminul, who is now a minority shareholder in the company.
Bestinet later developed the FWCMS system, which involves 15 modules for recruiting migrant workers from 15 countries for employment in Malaysia, up to their repatriation.
Under this system, the costs are borne by Bestinet, and the government does not have to make any payments.
However, system users are required to pay a fee.
In recent times, Bestinet has become a target of politicians and industry players in the migrant worker recruitment sector, who accuse the company of controlling the recruitment process, particularly in Bangladesh.
In a recent report, Prothom Aloclaimed that Aminul, through Bestinet, controlled 100 Bangladeshi Recruitment Agents (BRA).
However, Ismail, who is also Bestinet’s director, denied the allegations.
“The 100 BRAs are the result of cooperation between the Malaysian and Bangladeshi governments. There is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two governments.
“We do not have any influence over any decisions made by the government. The list of 100 BRAs was provided by the Malaysian government to the Bangladeshi government before they registered under the FWCMS.
“We do not interfere in this process. We only cooperate with the decisions made by the Malaysian and Bangladeshi governments,” he said.
Number of agencies associated with the migrant worker syndicate
Previously, under Najib Abdul Razak’s premiership, then-home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi appointed only 10 agencies out of more than 700 proposed agencies.
The number of agencies was then increased to 25, along with 250 sub-agents, during Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration.
Later, then-human resources minister M Saravanan agreed to increase the number of agencies to 100 following a request from the Bangladeshi government.
Ismail had also denied that Bestinet had any connections with the Bangladesh-based migrant worker recruitment agency, Catharsis Solutions Limited, owned by Swapon.
“We have no relationship with Catharsis Solutions Limited. This company is not part of the 100 BRAs,” he said.
However, Ismail confirmed that another company owned by Swapon, known as Catharsis International, is one of the 100 BRAs in Malaysia.
“But we did not select this company. It was on the list provided by the Malaysian government,” he said.
Malaysiakini has contacted Aminul for a response.
Background Reading:
FMT 7th July 2024: Use independent experts for migrant system audit, says anti-graft group
MALAYSIAKINI 6th July 2024 C4CENTER COMMENT: Massive migrant labour recruiting issues, cops must probe
NST 6th July 2024: Probe foreign labour recruitment misgovernance highlighted by PAC, govt urged
FMT 6th July 2024: Anti-corruption watchdog demands action over govt-Bestinet deal
Malay Mail 6th July 2024: Home minister says will review PAC criticism over migrant worker system launched without contract
Star 5th July 2024: Mutual termination clause in Bestinet contract puts Putrajaya in ‘challenging position’, says Public Accounts Committee report
4th July 2024 BSS News – Expatriates Minister Shofiqur directs returning money to workers who failed to go to Malaysia
4th July 2024 New Age – Bangladeshi Agencies must refund workers unable to go to Malaysia by July 18: ministry
FMT 4th July 2024: Govt urged to heed PAC’s call on migrant worker system
Star 4th July 2024: Human Resources Ministry to conduct internal audit
Star 4th July 2024: PAC uncovers serious flaws
FMT 3rd July 2024: Decide quickly on direction of migrant worker system in Malaysia, Public Accounts Committee tells govt
Vibes 3rd July 2024: Foreign worker management system operating 6 years without a contract
3rd July 2024: The Edge – Public Accounts Committee chastises govt for running foreign worker recruitment system for six years without contract
Malaysiakini 3rd July 2024: BESTINET Probe – Public Accounts Committee chief says ‘Datuk Amin’ not among witnesses
3rd July 2024: The Star – Bestinet told Public Accounts Committee unauthorised users were approved by HR Ministry personnel, report shows
FMT 2nd July 2024: Tenaganita letter to Editor – TIP upgrade no cause for celebration just yet
30th June 2024: Somoy News – Bangladeshi High Court orders disclosure of action on Malaysia migrant worker scam (with 500,000+ victims) in 7 days
Malay Mail 25th June 2024: Home minister sees good things for Malaysian businesses after upgrade to US trafficking ranking
The Star 25th June 2024: Malaysia will strive to reach Tier 1 in Trafficking In Persons report, says Saifuddin
Scoop 25th June 2024: Nation’s improved Tier 2 human trafficking ranking ‘dangerously misleading’, says activist
See also MALAYSIAKINI 25th June 2024: M’sia doesn’t deserve Tier 2 in US human trafficking ranking – activist
Daily Star 26th June 2024: Rights activists criticise Malaysia’s improved ranking
See also Benar News 24th June 2024: Malaysia advances in US State Dept’s world rankings for anti-human trafficking efforts
See also FMT 24th June 2024: Malaysia upgraded to Tier 2 in US human trafficking report
See also Benarma 25th June 2024: Malaysia upgraded to Tier 2 in U.S. TIP Report
See also Focus Malaysia 25th June 2024: Migrant workers’ activist – Malaysia doesn’t deserve Tier 2 upgrade in 2024 US human trafficking report
See also 25th June 2024: Home Ministry welcomes country’s Tier 2 upgrade on Trafficking in Persons 2024 report
See also FMT 25th June 2024: Home ministry open to working with NGOs against human trafficking
See also Star 25th June 2024: Malaysia upgraded to Tier 2 in latest Trafficking in Persons report
SCMP 25th June 2024: Malaysia’s upgrade in US human trafficking index decried as ‘disappointing’ amid migrant worker woes
24th June 2024 Exclusive Analysis: CNA – Extension of Malaysia’s controversial migrant labour ecosystem (involving BESTINET) a blow to PM Anwar’s reform agenda
See New Strait Times 24th June 2024: Malaysian Government Forms Committee to Review Terms of Bestinet’s 3 Year Extension
FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet contract extended, confirms Saifuddin – ‘Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says the Cabinet decided in principle on the extension ‘several weeks ago’.
Malay Mail 24th June 2024: Home Minister – Bestinet keeps foreign worker system contract for three more years, but with stricter terms
Bernama News 24th June 2024: Committee set up to Peruse Terms and Conditions of BESTINET Contract
FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet to surrender control of workers management system under new deal
FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet should be phased out eventually, says ex-MP
Malaysianist 18th June 2024: Minting money from a migrant services monopoly (click to subscribe for full article)
9th June 2024 Daily Star – Labour Recruitment from Bangladesh to Malaysia: Syndicate wins, migrants suffer, country loses(excellent summary how bad triumphed, carnage resulted – Bangladesh and Malaysia MUST be downgraded to Tier 3 in the upcoming U.S. TIP report!)
Dhaka Tribune 11th June 2024: Deadline extended for Malaysia migration hurdle complaints
Business Standard 11th June: Unrest within Baira over Malaysian labour market, ruckus in AGM as committee members assaulted
Observer 9th June 2024: Around 2,900 complaints lodged by deprived Malaysia-bound migrants
Malaysianist 6th June 2024: The fat cat ruling the Malaysian migrant services roost(allegations of systemic corruption involving Malaysia’s migrant worker management systems – click to subscribe)
Business Standard 5th June 2024: Govt to take action over failure in sending workers to Malaysia: PM Hasina
4th June 2024 Daily Star (Op Ed): Break the syndicates, not the dreams of Malaysia-bound workers
SCMP 4th June 2024 – In Malaysia, business and human rights must go hand in hand, UN rights chief says in KL press conference against backdrop of systemic migrant worker abuses
New Straits Times 4th June 2024: Human rights-centric practices essential for foreign investment, says UN
4th June 2024 Business Standard: NHRC orders probe into alleged embezzlement of Tk150cr from Malaysia-bound workers
4th June 2024 Business Standard: 47,809 Bangladeshis flew to Malaysia in May – highest since labour market reopened in 2022
Daily Sun 3rd June: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA – Recruiting agencies never made accountable(good historical summary)
Business Standard 4th June 2024:Dhaka-20, Feni-2 MPs deny allegations of involvement in embezzling money from Malaysia-bound workers
SCMP 3rd June 2024: ‘Nothing left for me’ as thousands of Bangladeshi workers lose everything in failed bid to work in Malaysia
Daily Star Editorial 3rd June 2024: Must our migrants pay the price every time?
Prothomalo 3rd June 2024 – Bangladesh Labour market: Hapless workers lose all vying to go to Malaysia
Daily Sun 3rd June 2024: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA: Recruiting agencies never made accountable
FMT 3rd June 2024: 17,000 Bangladeshi workers stranded, Dhaka pleads for time
Daily Star 3rd June 2024: 16,970 Bangladeshis failed to reach Malaysia for mismanagement, more destitution and modern slavery will result
Daily Star 3rd June 2024 – Bangladeshi Migrant Worker Exploitation and Malaysian Labour Market Alleged Criminal Syndicate: The agencies picked by KL to blame, Bangladesh tells UN OHCHR
Daily Star 2nd June 2024: Controversial recruitment system to stay 3 more years
Daily Star 2nd June – Jobs in Malaysia: Mismanagement left over 3k workers with no ticket to KL
Daily Star 1st June 2024: Must history repeat itself with the Malaysian labour market’s alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour
MALAYSIAKINI June 1st 2024: Controversial worker management system BESTINET gets new lease, sources say
1st June 2024 Kalerkantho: Malaysia’s dream ends in deprivation for Bangladeshi migrant workers of criminal syndicate
FMT 31st May 2024: Expect Bangladeshi workers to be stranded and at high risk of modern slavery following Malaysian migration management deadline rush, warns activist
SCMP 31st May 2024: Malaysians shocked by thousands of Bangladeshis crowding at airport to beat deadline for legal work, as UN and activists warn of increased modern slavery risks
CNA 31st May 2024: Over 30,000 workers set to miss deadline to enter Malaysia even as officials clear backlog at KL airport
Prothomalo 31 May 2024 – Bangladesh – Malaysia’s labour market: Repeated syndicates, repeated closure
Prothomalo 31st May 2024: Bangladesh – Thousands of people crowded Dhaka airport without flight tickets to go to Malaysia
31st May 2024 FMT: Govt reaffirms commitment to protect migrant workers’ rights to UN
31st May 2024: The closure of the labor market in Malaysia has shattered the dreams of 31,000 workers
Daily Star 31 May 2024 – Recruitment in Malaysia: Syndicate siphons over $1b out of Bangladesh
Daily Sun 31st May 2024: Biman sends 2,000 migrant workers to Malaysia
Business Standard 31st May 2024: Malaysia-bound workers scammed, stranded at Dhaka airport as deadline set to expire today
Daily Star 30th May 2024: Manpower syndicates beyond Dhaka-KL control
CNA 30th May 2024: ‘Congestion’ at KL airport as employers scramble to bring in thousands of migrant workers before deadline
MALAYSIAKINI 30th May 2023: ‘Migrants influx at KLIA due to employers chasing deadline’
30th May 2024 Benar News: Malaysia’s labor market closed – Migrant workers flock to airports in all countries
29th May Daily Star: Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia – Hiring begins with bribery (UN independent experts say Bangladeshi workers pay up to 8 times for migration alone due to corruption of Malaysia ministries, Bangladesh mission and syndicates)
29th May Daily Star: Airfare to Malaysia surges fivefold
FMT 28th May 2024: Malaysia yet to respond to UN concerns on alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant victims for forced labour in the country(with my full statement included)
30th May Star: Cyclone smashes Bangladeshi workers’ hopes, extension requested
Channel News Asia 25th May 2024: Malaysia’s bid to revamp hiring of foreign workers through controversial BESTINET process faces pushback; activists say country’s reputation at stake
20th May 2024 FMT: Duped Bangladeshi workers won’t impact Malaysia’s US Human trafficking report ranking, says HR Minister Sim
Malay Mail 17th May 2024: Pengerang employer to face Labour Court in Malaysia after failing for months to pay Bangladeshi workers’ wages over RM1m (government statements and my comments included – months on, court agreed mediation settlement unforced, workers allegedly remain in situation akin to acute modern slavery)
16th May 2024: Firm that left over 700 Bangladeshi workers to dry in Pengerang facing possible prosecution (months on, court agreed mediation settlement unforced, workers allegedly remain in situation akin to acute modern slavery)
14th May 2024: FMT – Activists warn of US trafficking report downgrade for Malaysia amid UN criticism
9th May 2024: Study: 96% of Bangladeshi workers going to Malaysia fall into recruitment debt– The study also said that 82% had two or more loans and 73% of workers spent at least 50% to 100% of their monthly salary to repay recruitment debts
4th May 2024: UN agencies concerned over Bangladeshi workers stranded in Malaysia – Joint Statement of ILO, IOM and UNODC on Alleged Criminal Syndicate Trafficking Bangladeshi Workers for Forced Labour in Malaysia
24th April 2024: Address plight of duped Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia in response to UN warning, govt told (more on the ongoing saga of an alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour in Malaysia)
FMT 19th April 2024: UN experts sound alarm over plight of duped Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia
For more on Andy Hall’s complaint to the OHCHR see 30th Oct 2023: FMT: Andy Hall refers stranded Bangladeshi workers’ plight in Malaysia to UN Human Rights Council
See Daily Star 23rd Apr 2024: Bangladesh Plight of Migrant Workers – Bangladesh, Malaysia working group meeting likely in May
See Daily Star Editorial 23rd Apr 2024: When even legal migrants suffer – Workers migrating to Malaysia legally deserve better protection
Business Standard 23rd April 2024: Expat Ministry reviews UN complaints on Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia
Prothomalo 23rd April 2024: Bangladesh – Ministry reviewing allegations over Malaysia labour market
BenarNews Malay Language: Pakar PBB gesa Malaysia tangani layanan buruk diterima pekerja Bangladesh (UN expert urges Malaysia to handle bad treatment received by Bangladeshi workers)
Daily Star 19th Apr 2024: UN experts express dismay over situation of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia
FMT 19th Apr 2024: PSM, news portal set aside order to stop debate on migrant workers’ plight
Daily Star Editorial 17th April 2024: Save our migrants in Malaysia (more on the crisis caused by an alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia)
9th April 2024 The Star – Bangladeshi victims of criminal syndicate trafficking worked for forced labour in Malaysia: ‘Cops after workers, not rogue employers’
7th April 2024: SCMP – As Malaysia’s door closes on low-paid migrant workers, companies scramble for staff (and a systemically corrupt migration management and recruitment policy, devoid of the rule of law and leading to impunity and gross exploitation, is revealed)
6th April 2024 Daily Star: A hostel of nightmares for Bangladeshi migrants allegedly trafficked by criminal syndicate for forced labour in Malaysia (and Daily Star Op Ed)
Daily Star Editorial 6th Apr 2024: What will happen to migrants abandoned in Malaysia?
26th March 2024: The Star – Freeze on foreign workers hiring quota in Malaysia stays for now, says HR Minister (with estimated 200,000+ surplus foreign workforce victims facing destitution and abuse)
Daily Star 25th Mar: Malaysia employer framed Bangladeshi workers
Daily Star 24th Mar 2024: Jailed in Malaysia – 3 Bangladesh workers released
Editorial Prothomalo 24th Mar 2024: Malaysian labour market – Take action against the fraud syndicate
FMT 23rd March 2024: PSM calls on Sim to look into arrest of Bangladeshi workers
MALAYSIAKINI 23 Mar 2024: Stranded foreign workers (alleged victims of criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia) nabbed after labour complaints against employer
23rd March 2024 The Star: Half a million vulnerable and irregular foreign workers disappear from Malaysia’s migrant worker regularization programme as deadline looms in one week
23 Mar 2024 The Star: Verification rate lags as RTK 2.0 deadline approaches
22nd March 2024 Malay Mail: Home minister – Over RM9m in fines collected so far through migrant repatriation programme
22nd March 2024 Protomalo: Malaysian labour market set to be closed again due to syndication
20th March 2024: 93 duped/detained Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia have jobs now, says immigration DG
20th Mar 2024 Business Standard: Bangladeshi workers’ plight in Malaysia: Coalition of migration orgs demand action against recruiting agency syndicate
19th March 2024: FMT – Plantation firms wary of ‘forced labour’ concerns in hiring 200,000 surplus foreign workers/criminal syndicate victims in Malaysia, says minister – indeed he’s right, who wants to take on destitute foreign workers often with US$4-7000 in debt?
17th March 2024: FMT – Malaysia’s treatment of migrant workers utterly shameful
New Age 16th Mar 2024: Bangladeshi government must mend issues to keep Malaysia job market open
15th March 2024 SCMP: Malaysians deride minister’s idea to rebrand palm oil workers as ‘specialised harvesters’
14th March 2024: The Star – Opinion: When work in Malaysia is a con – the criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshis for forced labour in Malaysia
FMT 13th March 2024: Bangladeshi migrants file police reports after falling victim to job scam/criminal syndicate trafficking workers from Bangladesh for forced labour in Malaysia
12th March 2024: SCMP – Malaysia to slash migrant workforce amid intolerance, job scam crisis involving Bangladeshi labourers
Daily Star Editorial 10th March 2024: Migrating to a life of unemployment
Daily Star 10th Mar 2024: Distressed in Malaysia – Thousands of Bangladeshi migrants jobless, unpaid or underpaid
9th March 2024: Malay Mail – Activists warn rushed 31st March visa deadline in Malaysia could force firms to source foreign workers unethically (includes my commentary on the abrupt policy change)
9th Mar 2024 The Star: No extension of May 31 foreign worker deadline
NST 9th Mar 2024: Keep recruitment agencies in a list rather than shutting them down, govt told
See also NST 9th Mar 2024: Sourcing migrant workers takes time, ‘not like buying cattle’, employer groups tell govt
NST 8th Mar 2024: Eliminate middlemen from migrant worker recruitment process, govt told
Star 8th Mar 2024: May 31 deadline for foreign workers recruitment under recalibration programme remains, says Saifuddin
Malay Mail 8th Mar 2024: Saifuddin Nasution: No more agents for Bangladeshi worker recruitment
6th Mar 2024: Malaysian government halts foreign worker entry into the country from 31st May 2024 (final calling visa/VDN approval issuance deadline 31st March 2024) as migrant worker management crisis worsens and victims of gross exploitation, unemployment and destitution rise significantly
6th March 2024: Business Times –Sudden change in foreign worker policy by Malaysian government leaves industry in limbo
6th Mar 2024 Edge: Foreign worker intake deadline changes will leave manufacturers in the lurch, says FMM
6th Mar 2024 FMT: Industry players shocked by foreign worker policy change, says FMM
Mar 5 2024: NCCIM urges govt to review unused foreign worker quota deadline
FMT 3rd Mar 2024: Ensure ‘crooks’ do not gain from repatriation programme, says activist
Mar 2nd 2024 The Star: A chance for illegals to go home
Mar 2nd 2024 The Star: Sarawak immigration extends RTK2.0 until June
Mar 1st 2024 FMT: 600,000 foreign workers urged to take easy exit home
Mar 1st 2024 The Star: Use repatriation programme to return home, 600,000 illegals told
Feb 28th 2024 The Star: New programme lets migrants off the hook without being prosecuted
Feb 25th 2024 The Star: Businesses want foreign worker hiring freeze lifted
Jan 31st 2024 NST: Govt to implement Migrant Repatriation Programme starting March
Jan 31st 2024 The Edge: Cabinet agrees to extend freeze on hiring of foreign workers, says home minister
31st Jan 2024 FMT: Migrant repatriation programme set for March 1
31st Jan 2024 The Star: Migration Repatriation Programme to commence on March 1, says Home Ministry
FMT 6th Jan 2024: 171 duped migrant workers deserve compensation, govt told (includes my full statement)
5th Jan 2024: New Strait Times – MCA: Don’t just fine employers, hold ministry accountable as well for unemployed foreign workers
FMT 30th Dec 2023: Migrants being duped into Malaysia because of govt’s failure to curb criminal trafficking syndicates and organised crime network, says activist Andy Hall
30th Dec 2023: New Strait Times – Recruitment agencies accused of deception as Bangladeshi victims speak out on exploitation and fear
29th Dec 2023: Malay Mail – Set up probe on exploitation of migrant workers and new ministry to manage their affairs, Suhakam tells Putrajaya
28th Dec 2023: FMT – Malaysia has entered ‘slave labour’ territory, says ex-MP – Charles Santiago calls for specific set-ups to manage migrant workers
27th Dec 2023: New Strait Times – MTUC demand govt, MACC probe into corrupt recruitment practices of foreign workers
26th Dec 2023: FMT – High recruitment fees make greedy agents bring in workers, says group
25th Dec 2023: FMT – Probe recruitment agents, MACC told after arrest of Bangladeshis
22nd Nov 2023: MALAYSIAKINI – Full probe of migrant worker syndicate, Malaysian HR Minister Sivakumar says
9th Nov 2023: Malaysia – The State of the Nation: Flaws of foreign worker system laid bare in declassified report
30th Oct 2023: FMT: Andy Hall refers stranded Bangladeshi workers’ plight in Malaysia to UN Human Rights Council
20th Oct 2023 Malaysiakini: Long-awaited foreign worker management report declassified in Malaysia (my comments added)
19th Oct 2023: Malaysia facing huge excess of 1/4 million migrant laborers
21st Sep 2023: Malaysian government has 15 source countries for foreign workers – Comments by Andy Hall
20th Sep 2023: Rate of abused Bangladeshi workers’ entry into Malaysia worrying, says migrant rights activist Andy Hall
Aljazeera News TV 10th July 2023 – Migrants in Malaysia: Hundreds left stranded in recruitment scam
