Nepal Archives - Andy Hall

15th May 2026: IOM (International Organisation for Migration)/UN agencies Additional Statement on alleged misrepresentations of Bestinet/FWCMS re: alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia

Andy Hall — Fri, 15 May 2026 03:38:10 +0000

15th May 2026: IOM (International Organisation for Migration)/UN agencies Additional Statement on alleged misrepresentations of Bestinet/FWCMS re: alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia

Sourced from: https://roasiapacific.iom.int/news/iom-statement-fair-and-ethical-recruitment-migrant-workers-malaysia

13 May 2026 – Migrant workers play a critical role in Malaysia’s economy and society. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) works in partnership with the Government of Malaysia and other stakeholders to advance fair and ethical recruitment practices and to strengthen protection for migrant workers across the migration cycle.

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 Charles Santiago 15th May 2026: 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐔𝐍 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭: 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬

IOM’s engagement in Malaysia focuses on supporting policies, systems and practices that are aligned with international labour standards and national priorities. This includes technical cooperation, capacity building, and improving access to services for migrant workers, particularly those in vulnerable situations.

In light of recent public statements and media reporting concerning Bestinet Sdn. Bhd and the Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS), IOM wishes to clarify that it has not been involved in the design, development, operation, review, or assessment of the FWCMS, and that IOM has not endorsed, validated, or recognized the system.

IOM’s frameworks and guidance on ethical recruitment are publicly available and may be referenced by governments and other stakeholders. However, such references do not imply endorsement, approval, or partnership by IOM, unless explicitly stated by the Organization.

IOM aligns with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in promoting fair and effective recruitment and international labour standards. Malaysia’s ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 in 2022 reflects an important commitment to preventing forced labour and protecting workers’ rights. IOM stands ready to continue constructive engagement with the Government of Malaysia, in coordination with the ILO and other partners, to support implementation of these commitments in practice.

IOM remains committed to promoting ethical recruitment, responsible business practices, and approaches that reduce the risk of exploitation and recruitment-related debt, while supporting migrant workers to contribute safely and productively to Malaysia’s economy and communities.

For media inquiries, please visit IOM’s Media Centre.

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VIBES 16th May 2026: Two UN bodies distance themselves from Bestinet, raising fresh questions over FWCMS

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) said it does not endorse Bestinet or its platform, while the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) stated it had no involvement in the system’s design, development, operation or assessment.

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Edge 14th May 2026: Bestinet shrugs off International Labour Organization denial of migrant worker platform endorsement, says it remains credible

Bestinet 14th May 2026: ILO STATEMENT DOESN’T DIMINISH GLOBAL RECOGNITION OF MIGRANT WORKER SYSTEM – BESTINET

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12th May 2026: International Labour Organization (ILO)/UN agencies statement on alleged misrepresentations of Bestinet/FWCMS re: alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia

Edge 12th May 2026: International Labour Organization denies endorsing Bestinet migrant worker platform, rejects UN recognition claim

FMT 12th May 2026: ILO denies recognising Bestinet’s foreign worker system

Vibes 12th May 2026: Bestinet Concession “built on misrepresentations” and approved without sufficient scrutiny – Santiago

Star 12th May 2026: Migrant workers in Malaysia should not be burdened by recruitment fees, said ILO

12 May 2026: UN Statement

The principle that all jobseekers, particularly vulnerable migrant workers, should not be charged recruitment fees and related costs is central to the concept of fair and ethical recruitment.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) global definition of recruitment fees and related costs was adopted at a Tripartite Meeting of Experts in Geneva in November 2018 and subsequently approved by the ILO Governing Body in March 2019. The definition establishes a comprehensive international standard, clarifying that recruitment fees and related costs ‘refer to any fees or costs incurred in the recruitment process in order for workers to secure employment or placement, regardless of the manner, timing or location of their imposition or collection.’ The ILO definition is widely recognised as the authoritative international benchmark. It has informed the development of national laws, codes of conduct and audit protocols across a range of governments and multi-stakeholder and industry-led initiatives, contributing to a fairer migration process.

The Government of Malaysia itself took an important step towards these international standards in 2021, when it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Bangladesh that establishes a framework that facilitates the recruitment, employment, and repatriation of Bangladeshi migrants working in Malaysia. This included detailing the costs to be paid by the employer and the migrant worker – where employers are to pay for costs incurred in Malaysia including air fare.

Despite these good intentions, around 2023, reports started to surface about Bangladeshi workers arriving in Malaysia with valid work permits, only to discover that promised jobs were non-existent. In May 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) expressed concernsover the plight of the affected workers and offered support to address the immediate needs of the migrant workers and to support the Government of Malaysia with reviewing the current labour migration system, drawing on international standards and good practices, and supporting constructive policy dialogue to develop a transparent and efficient labour migration process.

Meanwhile, partners have drawn our attention to the press statement of Lui and Bhullar dated 23 April 2026 with respect to Bestinet Sdn. Bhd and the FWCMS (Foreign Workers Centralized Management System), where it is claimed that the platform is “UN recognized” and that the platform is “recommended by International Labour Organization and “designed in accordance with the principles and policies of the International Labour Organization and the International Organization of Migration.”

To avoid any misunderstanding on these claims and to clarify the facts:

The FWCMS is not a UN recognized platform. The official title of the award is World Summit Awards (WSA). The WSA is one of the activities of the non-profit organization International Center for New Media. While the WSA was initiated within the context of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and is aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, it is not an award issued by the United Nations. Hence the award while indeed bona fide, does not imply UN recognition.
ILO provided preliminary comments at the proposal stage, as presented, in 2013. To quote from the comments: “On 10 April 2013, the Executive Directors of Bestinet provided a briefing at the ILO Regional Office in Bangkok on the Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS). The ILO is interested to learn about any rights-based initiative that seeks to improve orderly labour migration flows and enhance protection for foreign workers in line with international standards, and is developed in consultation with social partners. The ILO found the Bestinet proposal to be well-presented, innovative, comprehensive and demonstrate a good understanding of some of the challenges faced in the effective management of labour migration. Beyond this, the ILO does not know of the credentials or competence of Bestinet to carry out the proposed system, and these comments should not be construed as an endorsement of the company.”
These comments were made in relation to the initial concept/proposal and should not be taken as applying to, or endorsing, any subsequent implementation.

The International Labour Organization remains committed to supporting Malaysia to continue to improve its labour migration governance in alignment with international labour standards, including the ILO General Principles and Operational Guidelines on Fair Recruitment. In this regard, we stand ready to support a consultation, including tripartite participation from Malaysia and Bangladesh, to discuss issues and good practices and develop recommendations on demand-based and fair labour migration in the corridor.

Sourced from: https://www.ilo.org/resource/statement/international-labour-organization-statement-promoting-fair-and-effective

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For more on Andy Hall’s original complaint to the UN agencies/OHCHR on this issue see 30th Oct 2023: FMT: Andy Hall refers stranded Bangladeshi workers’ plight in Malaysia to UN Human Rights Council

Kathmandu Post 8th June 2025: Nepal Malaysia migration corridor – Attempts to impose a total employment syndicate from Nepal to Malaysia have raised concerns (My Op Ed)

My Opinion Piece 12th August 2025: As Anwar meets Yunus, Corrupted Bangladesh Malaysia Recruitment Corridor Needs Reform

Charles Santiago Statement 12th May 2026: The Bestinet FWCMS Deal Must be Shelved: Built on Misrepresentations; Shielded from Scrutiny (day one)

Charles Santiago Statement 13th May 2026: The Bestinet FWCMS Deal Must be Shelved: Built on Misrepresentations; Shielded from Scrutiny (day two)

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Previous Official UN communications on the Issue (available in full on request from andy@andyjhall.org)

Bangladesh OHCHR.pdfDownload

Malaysia OHCHR.pdfDownload

Briefing to the OHCHR (Final Draft).docxDownload

Bangladesh response to OHCHR.pdfDownload

Malaysia response to OHCHR.pdfDownload

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Previous Related 2024/2025 UN Statements

United Nations (UN) NEWS RELEASE 21 Nov 2025 – Malaysia: UN experts sound alarm over continued systematic exploitation of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia (alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia)

Sourced from: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/11/malaysia-un-experts-sound-alarm-over-continued-systematic-exploitation

“We are deeply troubled that fraudulent recruitment and the exploitation of migrants remain widespread and systematic in Malaysia,” the experts said. “These practices continue to cause significant human rights harms to affected workers and their families.”

The experts noted that, according to information received, thousands of workers recruited through the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services (BOES) remain stranded in Bangladesh or face exploitation risks in Malaysia after paying recruitment fees reportedly exceeding the official fees by more than five times. Allegations also include confiscation of passports by employers, false job promises, discrepancies between contracts and promised employment packages, the publication of workers’ passport numbers and other personal information without their consent, and the lack of access to support from responsible government agencies.

“Some migrants have reportedly been asked to make additional payments, while others have been reassigned to jobs without their consent. We have also been informed that a small number of recruitment agencies operate as a closed syndicate sustained by corruption, lack of transparency, and systemic exploitation,” the experts noted. They also received reports of workers being pressured to sign or record false declarations stating that they had only paid official fees shortly before departure.

The experts reiterated that the Governments of Bangladesh and Malaysia have an obligation to ensure that labour migration is governed in a rights-based, transparent, and accountable manner. They urged Bangladesh to strengthen the oversight of recruitment agencies, possibly through a centralised job portal, and prohibit the collection of fees from migrant workers. Malaysia is asked to ensure stronger safeguards to protect migrants from exploitation, arbitrary arrest, detention or deportation. They stressed that involuntary repatriations and any form of reprisals by either governments or employers against migrant workers are wholly unacceptable and violate international human rights obligations.

They called on both countries to conduct prompt and independent investigations into reported abuses, provide effective remedies, including restitution and debt relief, and enhance cooperation to dismantle exploitative recruitment networks.

The experts urged both Governments to strengthen independent oversight in cooperation with civil society, trade unions, national human rights institutions, and UN agencies. In addition, they called for expanded labour inspections in high-risk sectors and effective firewalls between labour rights enforcement/service providers and immigration enforcement authorities. They further urged the Government of Bangladesh to provide pre-departure training for workers on their rights and establish effective reporting channels to secure remedies to migrants.

“We urge both Governments to intensify their efforts to ensure that migrant workers are not criminalised or re-victimised, and that fraudulent recruitment agencies and other responsible actors are held accountable,” the experts said.

They reiterated their readiness to continue constructive dialogue with both Governments and relevant actors.

The experts have been in contact with the Governments of Malaysia and Bangladesh on these issues.

*The experts:

Tomoya Obokata, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences;
Gehad Madi, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants;
Pichamon Yeophantong (Chairperson), Damilola Olawuyi (Vice-Chairperson), Fernanda Hopenhaym, Lyra Jakulevičienė and Robert McCorquodale, Working Group on business and human rights.

Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.

Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index.

UN Human Rights, country page – https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/bangladesh

For inquiries and media requests, please contact: Satya Jennings (satya.jennings@un.org).

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact Maya Derouaz (maya.derouaz@un.org) or Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org)

Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on X: @UN_SPExperts.

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TBS 27th Nov 2025: UN experts flag widespread exploitation of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia – HRW

TPBS 23rd Nov 2025: Bangladeshi workers pay up to RM30,000 for jobs in Malaysia – Former Malaysian plantations minister speaks out in dhaka

Daily Star 22nd Nov 2025: UN – Intensify efforts to safeguard migrant workers

Malaysiakini 22nd Nov 2025: UN – Continued exploitation of Bangladeshi workers in M’sia alarming

FMT 21st Nov 2025: UN experts flag ‘continued exploitation’ of Bangladeshis in Malaysia

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May 10th 2024 The Star: Malaysian Government responds to OHCHR, IOM, ILO and UNODC joint condemnation on alleged Bangaldeshi migrant worker criminal syndicate by pledging to set up special unit handling migrant workers’ grievances, says HR Minister Sim

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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

The International Organization for Migration, the International Labour Organization, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime say they are ready to support meeting the needs of those subject to the criminal syndicate.

Original Source: FMT by Jason Thomas – 4th May 2024

PETALING JAYA: Three international organisations have expressed concern over the plight of Bangladeshis duped into coming to Malaysia for non-existent jobs.

This includes enhancing their access to justice and basic services, as well as longer term efforts to find rights-based and sustainable solutions to the situation, they said in a joint statement.

“The three agencies stand ready to support the government of Malaysia with reviewing the current labour migration system, drawing on international standards and good practices, and supporting constructive policy dialogue to develop a transparent and efficient labour migration process,” the statement said.

It said Bangladeshi migrant workers currently make up the largest number of migrant workers in Malaysia.

Since the second quarter of 2023, there has been an increasing number of reports of workers who were not provided jobs upon arrival in the country, the agencies said.

“Instead, there have been reports of employers and related recruitment agents placing them in often very crowded hostels, apartments, or even warehouses, with unsanitary facilities, minimal access to food, limited communications with the outside world, and limited healthcare (or lack thereof), while confiscating their passports and other documentation,” the statement added.

In April, a group of UN experts called on Malaysia to do more to protect Bangladeshi migrant workers from exploitation over non-existent jobs.

The UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts said they were dismayed at reports about Bangladeshi migrants who travelled to Malaysia after being promised employment, only to find out they had been duped.

Last October, migrant rights activist Andy Hall referred Malaysia’s poor response to the plight of these Bangladeshi workers to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, a body under the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Full statement of ILO, IOM and UNODC – 3rd May 2024

Bangladeshi migrant workers currently make up the largest number of foreign workers in Malaysia. Since the second quarter of 2023, there has been an increasing number of reports on workers who were not provided jobs upon arrival in Malaysia. Instead, there have been reports of employers and relatedrecruitment agents placing them in often very crowded hostels, apartments, or even warehouses, with unsanitary facilities, minimal access to food, limited communications with the outside world and limited healthcare (or lack thereof), while confiscating their passports and other documentation, which prevented them from leaving the premises where they were confined. Estimates of the numbers of Bangladeshi migrants in this situation range widely.

IOM, ILO and UNODC are very concerned at the plight of the workers and stand ready to support meeting the immediate needs of those stranded including by enhancing their access to justice and basic service, as well as longer term efforts to find rights-based and sustainable solutions to the situation. The three agencies stand ready to support the Government of Malaysia with reviewing the current labour migration system, drawing on international standards and good practices and supporting constructive policy dialogue to develop a transparent and efficient labour migration process.

In 2022, Malaysia ratified the Protocol of 2014 to the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930, thereby renewing its commitment to fight against forced labour in all its forms, including trafficking in persons and debt bondage, and to ensure workers have access to justice and effective legal remedies.

End

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19th April 2024: UN (OHCHR) Statement on Alleged Criminal Syndicate Trafficking Bangladeshi Workers for Forced Labour in Malaysia – ‘Malaysia: Bangladeshi workers must be protected from exploitation and criminalisation, say UN experts’

UN experts expressed dismay about the situation of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia, who had travelled there in the hope of employment after engaging in the official labour migration process.

UN Statement Available – HERE

Overview of situation:

FMT 19th April 2024: UN experts sound alarm over plight of duped Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia

FMT Source: FMT by Jason Thomas – 19th April 2024

They say certain high-level officials in Malaysia and Bangladesh are reportedly involved in criminal networks which are fraudulently recruiting migrant workers.

PETALING JAYA: A group of United Nations experts has called on Malaysia to do more to protect Bangladeshi migrant workers from being exploited into coming to Malaysia for non-existent jobs.

In a statement to FMT, the UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts said they were dismayed at reports about Bangladeshi migrants who travelled to Malaysia after being promised employment, only to find out they had been duped.

They also expressed concern that large amounts of money are being generated through the fraudulent recruitment of migrant workers by criminal networks operating between Malaysia and Bangladesh.

The experts said migrants were being deceived as they were recruited by companies that are frequently fake, and obliged to pay exorbitant recruitment fees which push them into debt bondage.

They noted that many migrants find on arrival in Malaysia that they do not have employment as promised, and are often forced into overstaying their visas, which results in them risking arrest, detention, ill-treatment and deportation.

“The situation of Bangladeshi migrants who have lived in Malaysia for several months or longer (without jobs) is unsustainable and undignified,” the statement said.

“Malaysia needs to take urgent measures to address the dire humanitarian situation of migrants and protect them from exploitation, criminalisation and other human rights abuses.

“We received reports that certain high-level officials in both governments are involved in this business or condoning it. This is unacceptable and needs to end.

“Perpetrators of these exploitative recruitments must be held accountable.”

The experts said the action taken against these private businesses and fraudulent recruitment companies in Malaysia and Bangladesh so far has been “wholly insufficient”.

The statement was issued by the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Slavery, Tomoya Obokata; the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Siobhan Mullally; the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, Gehad Madi; and other experts.

Stating that some migrants have faced severe reprisals for reporting the exploitation suffered, they urged Malaysia to handle labour migration more effectively by adopting adequate safeguards.

They said Malaysia must fulfil its obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, under which it has to protect migrant workers against human rights abuses by businesses operating in the country and ensure that these businesses respect human rights.

The experts also said Malaysia must step up efforts to identify, protect and assist victims of exploitation, enforce existing legal protections against trafficking in persons, and uphold the country’s international human rights obligations.

They said they have previously engaged with the Malaysian and Bangladeshi governments on these issues.

Last October, migrant rights activist Andy Hall referred the country’s poor response to the plight of these Bangladeshi workers to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), a body under the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.

Describing the workers’ situation as “dire”, he provided details of their poor living conditions, including cramped quarters, poor sanitation, and limited food, and how they became indebted due to exorbitant recruitment costs.

Hall had also sent the documented complaints to the UN special rapporteurs on slavery, trafficking, migrants, and poverty; the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and Pia Oberoi, the senior adviser on migration and human rights for Asia Pacific.

UN Statement:

19th April 2024: NEWS RELEASE – Malaysia: Bangladeshi workers must be protected from exploitation and criminalisation, say UN experts

UN Statement Available – HERE – 19th April 2024

GENEVA (19 April 2024) – UN experts* today expressed dismay about the situation of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia, who had travelled there in the hope of employment after engaging in the official labour migration process.

“The situation of Bangladeshi migrants who have lived in Malaysia for several months or longer is unsustainable and undignified,” the experts said. “Malaysia needs to take urgent measures to address the dire humanitarian situation of migrants and protect them from exploitation, criminalisation and other human rights abuses.”

They noted that many migrants find on arrival in Malaysia that they do not have employment as promised and are often forced into overstaying their visas. Consequently, these migrants risk arrest, detention, ill-treatment and deportation, the experts said.

They expressed concern that large sums of money were being generated through the fraudulent recruitment of migrant workers by criminal networks operating between Malaysia and Bangladesh. Migrants were being deceived, recruited by companies that are frequently fake, and obliged to pay exorbitant recruitment fees which pushes them into debt bondage, the experts said.

“We received reports that certain high-level officials in both Governments are involved in this business or condoning it. This is unacceptable and needs to end,” the experts said. “Perpetrators of these exploitative recruitments must be held accountable,” they said, adding that so far action taken against these private businesses and fraudulent recruitment companies have been wholly insufficient, both in Bangladesh and Malaysia. “Meanwhile, vulnerable migrants have been criminalised and some have faced severe reprisals for reporting the exploitation suffered,” they said.

They urged Malaysia and Bangladesh to investigate and address the situation. “Malaysia must govern labour migration more effectively by adopting adequate safeguards,” the experts said, urging the country to fulfil its obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to protect migrant workers against human rights abuses by businesses operating in Malaysia and ensure that these businesses respect human rights. Malaysia must also step up efforts to identify, protect and assist victims of exploitation, enforce existing legal protections against trafficking in persons and uphold the country’s international human rights obligations, they said.

The experts have previously engaged with the Governments of Malaysia and Bangladesh on these issues.

*The experts: Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; Gehad Madi, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants and Robert McCorquodale (Chair-Rapporteur), Fernanda Hopenhaym (Vice-Chair), Pichamon Yeophantong, Damilola Olawuyi, Elzbieta Karska, Working Group on business and human rights

Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent of any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity.

For inquiries and media requests, please contact: Satya Jennings (satya.jennings@un.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org)

Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on X: @UN_SPExperts.

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Background Links on UN statements

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)

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Migration

Daily Star 19th Apr 2024: UN experts express dismay over situation of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia

Star Digital Report

Sourced from: https://www.thedailystar.net/nrb/migration/news/un-experts-express-dismay-over-situation-bangladeshi-migrants-malaysia-3590671

UN experts today expressed dismay about the situation of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia, who had travelled there in the hope of employment after engaging in the official labour migration process.

“The situation of Bangladeshi migrants who have lived in Malaysia for several months or is unsustainable and undignified,” the experts said, according to a statement of the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) issued today.

They expressed concern that large sums of money were being generated through the fraudulent recruitment of migrant workers by criminal networks operating between Malaysia and Bangladesh.Read more

Save our migrants in Malaysia

They said migrants were being deceived, recruited by companies that are frequently fake, and obliged to pay exorbitant recruitment fees which pushes them into debt bondage.

“We received reports that certain high-level officials in both governments are involved in this business or condoning it. This is unacceptable and needs to end,” the experts said.

The independent experts who made the statements have previously engaged with the governments of Malaysia and Bangladesh on these issues.

Bangladeshis in Malaysia: Cops after workers, not rogue employers

They include Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; Gehad Madi, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants and Robert McCorquodale (Chair-Rapporteur), Fernanda Hopenhaym (Vice-Chair), Pichamon Yeophantong, Damilola Olawuyi, Elzbieta Karska of the Working Group on business and human rights.

According to the independent researchers and migrants who talked to this newspaper, each of the migrants paid around Tk 500,000 for a job in Malaysia.Read more

Foreign workers: Malaysia govt extends visa deadline to April 21

Since the end of 2022, more than 400,000 Bangladeshis have migrated to Malaysia for jobs under a syndicated of 100 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies selected by the Malaysian government. But, a significant portion of them are facing joblessness, underpayment or no payment. In total, there are around 800,000 Bangladeshis in Malaysia.

Earlier in 2018, Malaysia had frozen the recruitment of Bangladeshis saying that there was corruption, debt bondage and Han trafficking.

There were also numerous media reports on the labour exploitation and malpractices of migration in the Bangladesh-Malaysia corridor.Read more

What will happen to migrants abandoned in Malaysia?

“Malaysia needs to take urgent measures to address the dire humanitarian situation of migrants and protect them from exploitation, criminalisation and other human rights abuses,” the UN experts said.

“Perpetrators of these exploitative recruitments must be held accountable,” they said, adding that so far action taken against these private businesses and fraudulent recruitment companies have been wholly insufficient, both in Bangladesh and Malaysia.

Malaysia’s freeze on hiring foreign workers: Big blow for Bangladesh’s aspiring migrant workers

“Meanwhile, vulnerable migrants have been criminalised and some have faced severe reprisals for reporting the exploitation suffered,” they said.

They urged Malaysia and Bangladesh to investigate and address the situation.

“Malaysia must govern labour migration more effectively by adopting adequate safeguards,” the experts said.Read more https://www.thedailystar.net/nrb/migration/news/malaysia-employer-framed-bangladeshi-workers-3575106

Malaysia employer framed Bangladeshi workers

They urged the country to fulfil its obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to protect migrant workers against human rights abuses by businesses operating in Malaysia and ensure that these businesses respect human rights.

Malaysia must also step up efforts to identify, protect, and assist victims of exploitation, enforce existing legal protections against trafficking in persons and uphold the country’s international human rights obligations, the experts said.

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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)

See Daily Star 23rd Apr 2024: Bangladesh Plight of Migrant Workers – Bangladesh, Malaysia working group meeting likely in May

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

See Daily Star Editorial 23rd Apr 2024: When even legal migrants suffer – Workers migrating to Malaysia legally deserve better protection

19th April 2024: UN (OHCHR) Statement on Alleged Criminal Syndicate Trafficking Bangladeshi Workers for Forced Labour in Malaysia – ‘Malaysia: Bangladeshi workers must be protected from exploitation and criminalisation, say UN experts’

FMT 19th April 2024: UN experts sound alarm over plight of duped Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia

Daily Star 19th Apr 2024: UN experts express dismay over situation of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia

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30th Oct 2023 – FMT: Andy Hall refers stranded Bangladeshi workers’ plight in Malaysia to UN Human Rights Council

Activist refers stranded Bangladeshi workers’ plight in Malaysia to UN rights body (Andy Hall’s recent complaint to UN Human Rights Council)

Andy Hall has written to the UN Human Rights Council with details of the current situation in Malaysia, which he describes as ‘dire’.

Original source: Free Malaysia Today by K. Parkaran – 30th October 2023.

PETALING JAYA: Frustrated with the poor response from the Malaysian authorities over the plight of hundreds of Bangladeshi workers who are allegedly struggling in debt bondage and without jobs in the country, a migrant rights activist has referred the matter to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Andy Hall has written to the OHCHR, which is a body under the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, where he described the workers’ situation as “dire”.

He provided details of their poor living conditions including cramped quarters, poor sanitation, limited food and how they became indebted due to exorbitant recruitment costs during the past 18 months or more.FMT article on my recent complaint to UN Human Rights Council

Hall had also sent the documented complaints to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Slavery, Trafficking, Migrants, Poverty and the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and Pia Oberoi, the senior adviser on migration and human rights for Asia Pacific.International Migrant Rights Specialist – Andy Hall.

Hall focused on the Malaysian government’s admission that there was currently an excess of about 250,000 Bangladeshi workers in the country.

“Based on the case studies and correspondence with the Malaysian authorities, I would like to urgently request the UNHRC to invoke the special procedures of the OHCHR to resolve the situation in Malaysia.

“The government has admitted that there is an excess of around 250,000 workers in Malaysia, which has resulted in systematic forced labour, modern slavery and debt bondage,” he said.

Hall said the onus was on the government to explain how such a situation could have occurred in the first place, adding that if the applicants for migrant workers had been bona fide, there should not be excess workers in the country.

Recently, home minister Saifuddin Nasution said relaxing regulations on the hiring of migrant workforce and the recalibration exercise led to an excess of over 250,000 foreign workers in the manufacturing and service sectors.

Citing one of the documented cases, Hall said it involved 400 Bangladeshi workers who were allegedly in a grave situation with no proper lodging and food.

He said they were allegedly living in cramped conditions and were reportedly facing health issues.

“There are about 14 workers crammed into one room. I have received videos from this group. The agents who brought them here gave them RM200 each which they are using to buy food. It will not last them for long,” he said.

Hall said the workers should receive their full wages in line with the signed contracts and they should be provided with other related support.

He said the workers were living in fear as they lacked proper documents which made it risky for them to venture outside to access essential services.

“Leaving workers in this condition is unacceptable both on the part of brokers, employers and the Malaysian government.”

FMT has reached out to the OHCHR, the Malaysian labour department and the Bangladeshi high commission for comment.

In the Malaysian language –

‘Hidup dalam keadaan dahsyat’, aktivis rujuk nasib pekerja Bangladesh kepada UN

Andy Hall menulis kepada OHCHR memperincikan situasi dihadapi pekerja asing di Malaysia.

Original source: Free Malaysia Today by K. Parkaran – 30th October 2023.

—

Essential Background Reading

Edge 7th May 2026 Cover Story: How a lucrative Bangladesh labour import scheme into Malaysia (alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour in Malaysia) was shelved

Edge 7th May 2026 Cover Story: How a lucrative Bangladesh labour import scheme was shelved

Edge 7th May 2026 Cover Story: A web of profit and politics – An explainer on Malaysia’s foreign worker recruitment issues

Edge 26th April 2026: Edge Malaysia – How a lucrative Bangladesh labour import scheme to replace FWCMS was shelved from cabinet meeting(below)

Bloomberg 21st April 2026: Malaysia says it’s studying new migrant worker hiring system (regarding alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia) (below)

Bloomberg 16th April 2026: Malaysia Plans to Use Tycoon Amin’s New Migrant Worker System (below)

Bloomberg 23rd Jan 2026: World Exclusive on Alleged Criminal Syndicate Trafficking Bangladeshi Workers for Forced Labour in Malaysia | The Big Take: EVERYONE GETS A CUT, AND MIGRANT WORKERS PAY THE PRICE

—

Background Reading

Edge 7th May 2026 Cover Story: How a lucrative Bangladesh labour import scheme was shelved

Edge Cover Story 7th May 2026: Call to replace MoUs with binding bilateral labour agreements

Edge 7th May 2026 Cover Story: A web of profit and politics – An explainer on Malaysia’s foreign worker recruitment issues

Edge 26th April 2026: Edge Malaysia – How a lucrative Bangladesh labour import scheme to replace FWCMS was shelved from cabinet meeting (below)

Charles Santiago 24th April 2026: When a Press Statement is Expected to do the Work of an Audit! The Bestinet Scandal…

Malaysiakini April 24th 2026: Bestinet defends migrant worker system track record, says Turap will complement it

Edge 23rd Apr 2026: Newly proposed foreign worker system to complement existing systems, not replace them — Bestinet

Edge 23rd April 2026: Steven Sim, former HR minister, stays silent as tensions flare over foreign worker system

Edge 23rd April 2026: Bestinet’s Aminul Islam issues letter of demand to Rafizi on foreign worker recruitment issue

Malaysiakini 22nd April 2026: Rafizi says Bestinet objections raised in cabinet, dares Ramanan to reveal minutes

Edge 17th Apr: Ramanan refutes Bloomberg report on new foreign worker recruitment system

FMT 17th Apr: Why Bestinet again for new worker recruitment system, asks ex-MP

Bloomberg 16th April 2026: Malaysia Plans to Use Tycoon Amin’s New Migrant Worker System (below)

NST 16th Apr: HR Ministry sees no issue with Bestinet recruitment system

26th Feb Malaysiakini: Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ) slams Bestinet’s billion-ringgit lawsuit, urges safeguards

Malaysiakini 25th Feb 2026: Bestinet and Amin files billion-ringgit lawsuit against Malaysiakini, Bloomberg and others over media articles outlining alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour in Malaysia

23rd Feb NST: High Court rejects Bestinet, Aminul’s bid for gag order on migrant worker exposé

4th Feb Malaysiakini: Rafizi – Govt has no access to Bestinet’s source code

28th Jan Malaysiakini: ‘Warlord-run corrupt nation’ – Latheefa fumes over Bestinet article, govt silence

26th Jan MalaysiaNow: Damning Bloomberg report implicates Putrajaya in giving second life to Bangladeshi-owned firm accused of human trafficking

25th Jan Daily Star: Why have we failed to end migrant workers’ abuse? A sinister nexus has been allowed to thrive

24th Jan FMT: Launch probe into alleged trafficking of Bangladeshi workers, govt told

24th Jan Malaysiakini: LETTER | No more silence – Call for criminal accountability

23rd Jan Daily Star: Bangladesh-Malaysia labour route rife with corruption – Bloomberg report

—

Lateefa Koya (former MACC commissioner) statement: https://x.com/latheefakoya/status/2015254870442606781?s=46&t=_XQMnLR6Zf7gdwp4T1EXcQ

Charles Santiago (former MP) statementhttps://x.com/mpklang/status/2047535259449958405?s=46&t=_XQMnLR6Zf7gdwp4T1EXcQ

Wong Chen MP statement https://www.facebook.com/share/1CGHqjaniz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

—

Human Rights Watch 27th Nov 2025: UN Experts Describe System of Exploitation and Mistreatment

Meenakshi Ganguly

Deputy Asia Director

@meeganguly

Sourced originally from: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/26/rampant-labor-abuses-against-bangladeshi-migrant-workers-in-malaysia

United Nations human rights experts have highlighted “widespread and systematic” exploitation, deception, and deepening debt bondage of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

Over 800,000 Bangladeshis have Malaysian work permits, making them the largest group of documented foreign workers in the country. According to information received by the UN, thousands of workers are stranded in Bangladesh or face exploitation in Malaysia after some paid recruitment fees five times higher than the official rate.

TBS 27th Nov 2025: UN experts flag widespread exploitation of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia – HRW

Other abuses, including confiscation of passports by Malaysian employers, false job promises, discrepancies between contracts and promised employment packages, and a lack of support from responsible government agencies, are common in Malaysia.

Workers without proper documentation are at risk of arrest, detention, ill-treatment, and deportation under Malaysia’s draconian immigration act, which criminalizes irregular entry, and other anti-migrant policies. Malaysian authorities conduct frequent immigration raids and hold an estimated 18,000 migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in immigration detention centers.

The United States has previously issued import restrictions against Malaysian factories. Meanwhile the European Union’s Forced Labour Regulation, taking effect in 2027, introduces curbs on the trade of goods produced with forced labor. Debt bondage and deception of workers could lead to prohibitions on the sale of sanctioned goods under the new regulation.

The Bangladeshi and Malaysian governments, as well as those of other labor-sending or receiving countries and those where buying companies are headquartered such as the US, EU members, and the United Kingdom, have obligations to ensure labor migration is conducted in a way that protects workers’ rights.

Malaysia and labor-sending governments like Bangladesh should implement the UN experts’ call to promptly investigate reported abuses and provide effective remedies. The experts emphasized that “involuntary repatriations (#Mediceram/Ansell) and any form of reprisals” against migrant workers violate international human rights obligations.

International buyers sourcing from Malaysia should use the Fair Labor Association’s Guidance for Responsible Recruitment for companies as a model. The guidance urges buyers to “include costs of responsible recruitment in their purchasing metrics” and ensure that their suppliers include those costs in their invoicing. Buyers should also support migrant workers’ access to legal aid.

Bangladesh and Malaysia should end mistreatment of migrant workers. All governments whose economies benefit from migrant workers’ labor should avoid the risk of further sanctions by taking steps to end practices that cause misery to thousands.

—

My Opinion Piece 12th August 2025: As Anwar meets Yunus, Corrupted Bangladesh Malaysia Recruitment Corridor Needs Reform

Andy Hall, independent migrant worker rights specialist (andy@andyjhall.org)

Rahman, Bangladesh migration researcher

Bangladeshi migrants are heroes, contributing to their nation’s economy through remittances and to countries like Malaysia through hard work and skills. The Bangladesh to Malaysia migration corridor remains the most economically significant and controversial one for both countries.

Yet Bangladeshi workers face gross exploitation, including debt bondage and modern slavery, migrating to and working in Malaysia.

UN experts in 2024 raised concerns about more than 500,000 of these workers promised meaningful employment but instead facing abuse at the hands of recruitment intermediaries, bogus employers, corrupt officials and failed migration management systems of both countries concerned.

This flawed recruitment system between Bangladesh and Malaysia has involved only a few recruitment agencies, raising assumptions of corruption and impunity that undermine fair competition.

The migration management system involving FWCMS and Bestinet utilized for migration from Bangladesh to Malaysia is accused of non-transparent behaviour and essentially trading in human misery.

Apart from violations of competition and anti-corruption laws, hard to prove without evidence of informal money transfers across borders, suffering of the workers facing extortionate costs and abuse is undeniable.

Workers’ migration costs generally range from 450,000 to 550,000 BDT against a legal limit of 78, 990 BDT. For impoverished villagers, this results in acute debt bondage.

Property is mortgaged or sold, children’s education is sacrificed, health care lost. Lives destroyed.

Recruitment intermediaries, bogus employers and corrupt officials are involved in a criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers with false job promises for forced labour and modern slavery in Malaysia, using a migration management system that is shrouded in controversy and abuse.

Once these workers arrive in Malaysia, they often become unemployed and fall into absolute destitution. Many employers are bogus and promised jobs non-existent. Workers become trapped in a living hell.

Debt bondage, document confiscation, restricted freedom of movement, poor housing and limited access to healthcare and food. Many overstay visas and run away to change employers risking arrest, deportation and extortion by corrupt officials once they escape oppressors and protectors. Violence, persecution and powerlessness.

Yet all the time, criminals continue to profit from this inhumane and rotten recruitment scheme.

Due to widespread and repeated malpractices, migration from Bangladesh to Malaysia has been halted four times in 10 years, most recently last year. Around 20,000 workers were left stranded in Dhaka in 2024 when the migration corridor most recently descended into chaos. Only recently they were belatedly offered jobs in a Malaysian construction sector known to abuse.

This labour migration corridor has always been under intense media scrutiny. We pushed the UN complaint to internationalize this issue further in 2024.

There have also been investigations involving Interpol and the Bangladeshi and Malaysian Anti-Corruption commission against masterminds allegedly behind this scam. But still no signs of accountability or justice.

Disappointingly, as administrations change in both countries, the persistence of this flawed recruitment process outlives the leaders. This raises concern if those behind it are even more powerful than those meant to regulate it.

Malaysia’s migration management system is often held up to criticism. Systematically corrupt and allowing impunity, the rule of law has long been undermined. Concern is now even rising of abuses in the Nepal Malaysia migration coridoor too.

Bangladesh’s major political parties also fail to address its broken recruitment and migration management systems that breed exploitation with little prioritization of migrant rights in their reform agendas and government budgets.

Neither BNP’s 31-point proposal nor Jamaat-e-Islami’s 41-point plan demonstrate a strong commitment to addressing the needs of migrants but rather lack of political will to safeguard their rights.

Stubbornly, recruitment costs paid by Bangladeshis remain some of the highest in the world.

Local media reports on two high level meetings between Bangladesh and Malaysia held in Dhaka and KL in May to discuss reopening this migration corridor suggest tragic lessons learnt from the abuse of millions of Bangladeshis in Malaysia in the past decade may still not have been fully acknowledged and acted on.

The media has reported the interim Bangladeshi administration has responded to Malaysia’s recent request to withdraw accusations and stop investigations into the Malaysia recruitment corridor by stating Malaysia was not involved in misconduct or ill-treatment.

This misguided approach to reopening an abusive migration corridor tramples on the voices of millions of exploited workers.

Halting investigations into an illicit recruitment system between Malaysia and Bangladesh, or claiming no one is culpable when there is just so much evidence of the harm done is cruelly denying the abuse, preventing accountability and undermining the rule of law.

This approach only reinforces the Bangladeshi and Malaysian states’ decades old failure to protect migrant rights and reform their broken recruitment systems. It prevents the pursuit of justice and is an affront to human dignity.

The existing MoU on migration between the two nations allows for workers’ exploitation, funneling illicit profits to masterminds and undermining the rule of law. Key parts of the text should be changed.

Instead of getting to the root cause of the problems, which lies with corruption and human cruelty, both governments appear instead to be disconnected from human suffering. They perhaps overlook exploitation or conceal abuses to save face yet ignore joint national, economic and human security interests.

Both governments will fail millions of victims of this persistently abusive migration corridor if they don’t reform it and surrender again, in the interests of political expediency, to trafficking of Bangladeshis for forced labour.

UN organizations should again raise these concerns to both governments, as they did in early 2024. Diplomats and global supply chain actors whose operations are deeply entwined with this migration corridor should be speaking out too.

If today’s meeting between Anwar Ibrahim and Muhammad Yunus in Putrajaya, Malaysia results in abusive migration management systems winning out again between Bangladesh and Malaysia, casting basic human rights aside, it puts millions more Bangladeshis at risk of modern slavery through shameful indictment of a rotten system that refuses to change and which we all have failed to expose and regulate.

—

Kathmandu Post 8th June 2025: Nepal Malaysia migration corridor – Attempts to impose a total employment syndicate from Nepal to Malaysia have raised concerns (My Op Ed)

In 2023, more than 220,000 Nepalis went to Malaysia, the most popular destination for workers seeking income. Although Malaysia is an ‘attractive’ destination for Nepali citizens, most suffer gross exploitation in reality when migrating to and working in the country. High recruitment costs and related debt bondage, false terms of employment, and dangerous, dirty and demeaning jobs. Fake employers acting as outsourcing agents treat workers like cattle or leave them at risk of arrest, extortion and deportation.

Attempts to impose a total employment syndicate from Nepal to Malaysia have raised concerns.

Original Source: Kathamandu Post – Published: June 8, 2025 – Andy Hall & Dhurba Mijar

Nepalis in Malaysia also experience ineffective grievance mechanisms and dire consular assistance from the Nepali Embassy, in addition to passport confiscation, limited freedom of movement, violence and even death. Security guards, a job assigned exclusively to Nepali foreign workers, face some of the worst exploitation, ranging from excessive, compulsory overtime, no day off, irregular salary payment and deductions, poor housing, to lack of access to healthcare.

Most recently, from 2022 to 2024, the Bangladesh–Malaysia migration corridor was completely controlled by a syndicatethat led to the trafficking of Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in the country. The UN condemned this abuse in multiple statements, as workers shouldered debts of $5,000 and destitution once they arrived in Malaysia at non-existent jobs. Recruitment, travel, visa and medical check agencies were all selected to be part of the exclusive syndicate, which saw most business actors shut out.

Similarly, some syndicates have allegedly existed in Nepal’s migration processes to Malaysia for medical, visa, or security. However, migration costs from Nepal to Malaysia are lower than those from Bangladesh, and the entire recruitment system has never been syndicated. The number of agencies processing workers for migration to Malaysia was never restricted. However, similar efforts to impose a total syndicate from Nepal to Malaysia, like those in Bangladesh, have recently sparked accusations and denials.

The Malaysian migration system is rotten. It is plagued by systemic corruption, impunity and a lack of the rule of law. There is also an absence of a long-term migration policy that equally prioritises national, economic and human security. But the recently exposed Bhutanese refugee scam and the fake visit visa scandal have revealed widespread abuse of power in Nepal, too. Nepalis are trafficked into debt and forced labour across the world, and the ministers seem increasingly complicit in this.

Malaysia is a relatively developed country reliant on migrant labour-intensive global supply chains. It exports products made using foreign labour, such as palm oil, garments, electronics and furniture. Malaysia is obliged, at least on paper, to adhere to international Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) frameworks. Any form of syndicate when recruiting workers into its global supply chains that increases recruitment costs, forced labour and debt bondage risks, and dilutes transparency and fair competition raises questions about its commitment to ESG principles.

Migrant debt bondage due to exorbitant recruitment costs resulted in the US Customs and Border Protection placing a forced labour import ban on several prominent Malaysian companies from 2020 onwards. These companies paidmillions to workers, with the highest amount to those from Bangladesh, as reimbursement for recruitment costs to victims of abuse to clear their names.

If a total syndicate is implemented to tightly control who can process workers for migration within the Nepal-Malaysia migration corridor, it will lead to cronyism, processing delays and higher costs. Political coalitions in the country could also disintegrate over corruption controversies. This would not only affect the Nepali government and its workers, but also responsible Malaysian employers.

Despite significant implementation weaknesses, Nepal’s lower-cost recruitment policies attracted responsible Malaysian companies to hire Nepalis rather than Bangladeshis until May 2024, when all recruitment was suspended due to systemic irregularities and abuse. However, if a syndicate is implemented for Nepal, decent companies in Malaysia will shun recruiting Nepalis for alternatives where syndicates are not active.

This would leave Nepalis migrating to Malaysia only for jobs in sectors that do not prioritise worker welfare and are not linked to global supply chains, such as security, cleaning, local restaurants, construction and local manufacturing. The syndicate will burden Nepalis financially, ensuring higher recruitment costs whilst profiting corrupt actors. Illegal transactions of laundered cash to pay the demanded illicit commission in Malaysia would rise, affecting the national economy and raising questions about commitments to financial governance.

International efforts to develop a responsible recruitment framework focused on Malaysia’s migration corridor were most successful in Nepal. If a recruitment syndicate is implemented, these achievements will be lost, and Nepalis will face a sad situation similar to that of Bangladeshis.

Discussions are underway about only letting a few manpower agencies participate in a syndicate. This means others will be excluded from Malaysia’s labour market, forced to lay off staff or close. This would violate Nepal’s Constitution and the Competition Promotion and Market Protection Act of 2007, guaranteeing citizens the right to sell goods and services fairly and competitively. Any syndicate could and would be challenged in the Supreme Court.

However, it is necessary to end unhealthy competition and corrupt practices of most manpower agencies in Nepal, such as paying higher commissions to secure manpower demands over competitors at any cost to workers or Malaysian agents or employers.

The 2018 MoU signed between Nepal and Malaysia concerning recruitment, employment and repatriation of Nepali workers helped slightly to promote dignified labour migration. However, both governments’ lack of concern in reviewing the agreement, which expired last year, raises doubts about their commitment to worker welfare.

Despite the necessity of discussions on improving the welfare of workers migrating from countries like Nepal and Bangladesh to Malaysia, we are forced to focus on preventing monopolistic practices that threaten workers’ most basic rights.

Any non-transparent monopoly in Nepal’s migrant worker recruitment processes will harm the country’s remittance-dependent economy. If everyone remains silent as recruitment syndicates develop, the exploitation of Nepalese will deepen.

Nepal’s recruitment industry should engage the government to develop more responsible recruitment systems for Malaysian and other key destination countries for Nepali workers. The government of Nepal should also ensure its cabinet ministers do not sign unfair agreements and instead take the lead in building collective efforts with other migrant source countries, like Bangladesh, to stand against the bullying tactics of corrupt groups—both in Malaysia and Nepal—that may be seeking to expand a recruitment syndicate.

Nepal should strengthen ethical recruitment processes to impose upon destination countries that are desperate for loyal and hard-working Nepali nationals. Similarly, Malaysia, in coordination with countries like Nepal, must reform its rotten migration management systems and prioritise on worker welfare, ensuring transparency, and fulfil its obligations as a developed nation to stop the spread of exploitation, impunity and a lack of rule of law into recruitment experiences of the region’s most vulnerable migrant workers.

Andy Hall

Hall is an independent migrant worker rights specialist.

Dhurba Mijar

Mijar is the director and founder of Migration Dristi.

—

Further Background Reading

Daily Sun December 2025 News Series – BANGLADESHI MANPOWER EXPORT: CORRUPTION AT EVERY STEP – PART I, II, III and IV

Malaysiakini 21st Dec 2025: Bangladesh court questions M’sia’s 10 conditions to supply workers

Malaysiakini 13th Dec 2025: Dhaka clamps down on M’sia-linked worker ‘syndicate’, 232 implicated

Malaysiakini 3rd Dec 2025: Syndicate exploiting (trafficking) Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia exists, agent tells Bangladesh court

TBS 27th Nov 2025: UN experts flag widespread exploitation of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia – HRW

TPBS 23rd Nov 2025: Bangladeshi workers pay up to RM30,000 for jobs in Malaysia – Former Malaysian plantations minister speaks out in dhaka

Daily Star 22nd Nov 2025: UN – Intensify efforts to safeguard migrant workers

Malaysiakini 22nd Nov 2025: UN – Continued exploitation of Bangladeshi workers in M’sia alarming

FMT 21st Nov 2025: UN experts flag ‘continued exploitation’ of Bangladeshis in Malaysia

21st Nov Daily Star: Malaysia should relax criteria for recruiters

19th Nov UNB: Some conditions set by Malaysia for labour recruitment ‘unacceptable’: Asif Nazrul

19th Nov 2025 TBS: Bangladesh objects to Malaysia’s conditions over recruitment syndicate fears: Asif Nazrul

Nepali Times 16th Nov 2025: Nepal, Bangladesh reject Malaysian conditions – Ball back in Malaysia court on its strict new migrant labour recruitment criteria

15th Nov TBS News: After losing lakhs to ‘syndicate’, left-behind Bangladeshi workers in debt bondage and modern slavery paying yet again for Malaysia

Malaysiakini 9th Nov 2025: Bangladesh court orders fresh probe into worker-sending syndicate to M’sia

FMT 7th Nov 2025: New hiring conditions will perpetuate monopoly, ex-MP warns

Kaler Kantho 7th Nov 2025 – Migrant labour market: Bangladesh sends letter to Malaysia to relax three syndicated recruitment conditions after Nepal rejects outright

Malaysiakini 6th Nov 2025: Nepal govt rejects Msia’s new labour requirements

Malaysiakini 6th Nov 2025: New Malaysian migrant worker ‘syndicate’ rules spark scandal in Nepal as millions in bribes allegedly paid to intermediaries to secure recruitment market

See also Kantipur Nov 5th 2025: Nepal sends letter to Malaysia, says manpower standards cannot be accepted

Malaysiakini 4th Nov 2025: ‘10 conditions to supply migrant workers will revive syndicate’ in Malaysia, say international groups

See also Kantipur Nov 3rd 2025: Malaysia’s manpower standards being finalized through diplomatic dialogue, says Nepal

Business Standard 15th August 2025:Bangladesh, Malaysia have agreed to establish transparent recruitment system for workers – Bangladesh Chief Advisor Yunus

Bernama 14th August 2025: Bangladesh, Malaysia push for transparent hiring of workers (Bangla version here)

Daily Star 14th Aug 2025: Chief Advisor’s Malaysia Tour Boosts Dhaka KL Ties But Migrant Worker Issues Sidelines

SCMP 12th Aug 2025: Malaysia-Bangladesh labour migration talks resume amid job scam fears

Daily Star 12th August 2025: Human trafficking charges – CID clears ex-minister, secy after KL’s request

Daily Star 12th Aug 2025: Migration rights groups alarmed over possible clearing of Malaysia recruitment syndicate suspects

August 12th 2025 Bangla Tribune: Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM) demands open and transparent sending of workers to Malaysia

Malaysiakini 11th August 2025: Alleged members of Bangladeshi workers’ syndicate may walk: Report

Business Standard 10th August 2025: As Anwar and Yunus meet in Malaysia today, recruitment syndicate actors cleared of misconduct, news report suggests – Malaysia labour ‘syndicate’: Lotus Kamal’s family, 3 ex-AL MPs cleared of exploitation charges

Business Standard 1st August 2025: Malaysia to hire workers who missed last year’s deadline in construction, traditional sectors: Bangladesh mission in KL

Malaysiakini 31 July 2025 – ‘Source: Bangladesh to stop probing migrant workers’ exploitation syndicate’

Kathmandu Post 8th June 2025: Nepal Malaysia migration corridor – Attempts to impose a total employment syndicate from Nepal to Malaysia have raised concerns (My Op Ed)

Malaysiakini 7th June 2025: Duped, deported, and in debt: Nepal’s migrant worker trap

TBS 23rd May 2025: Malaysia to reopen labour market to Bangaldeshi migrants, syndicate stays but may expand agency list

20th May 2025: BAIRA faction alleged attack during press briefing against Malaysian labour market syndicate

Daily Star 19th May 2025: ‘Job scam’ – 33 Bangladeshis sue Malaysian firm, govt for Tk 4.8cr

FMT 18th May 2025: 33 Bangladeshi migrant workers sue Malaysian recruitment firm, Malaysian govt over job scam from alleged syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia

16th May 2025 Channel News Asia (CNA): Malaysia to resume recruitment of stranded Bangladeshi workers, vows to protect them from abuse, fraud

16th May 2025: Conditions on manpower export after Amin Noor was indicted – Malaysia calls for withdrawal of all controversial cases against 100 agencies designated by government

Daily Star 16th May 2025: Malaysia job market – Bangladeshis may be given preference

Star 16th May 2025: Malaysia committed to protecting Bangladeshi workers from exploitation, says Saifuddin

Daily Sun 16th May 2025: Malaysian labour market beckons Bangladeshis again

New Nation 16th May 2025: Malaysia labour market set to reopen

Bloomberg EXCLUSIVE 15th May 2025: Malaysia Asks Bangladesh to Withdraw Migrant Labor Probes

FMT 15th May 2025: Bangladesh clears Malaysia of labour abuse claims

Daily Star Editorial 15th May 2025: Don’t let Malaysia recruitment syndicates exploit migrants again – Workers’ rights must be prioritised during bilateral talks

SCMP 15th May 2025: Malaysia, Bangladesh urged to act on labour trafficking before ending migrant worker freeze

FMT 15th May 2025: Malaysia asks Bangladesh to withdraw migrant labour probes (taken from Bloomberg media)

Daily Star 15th May 2025: Bangladesh Malaysia agrees to recruit ‘large number’ of Bangladeshi workers

Daily Star 14th May 2025: Bangladeshi migrants in malaysia: Dhaka’s uphill battle to break syndicate chains

Daily Sun 15th May 2025: REOPENING OF MALAYSIAN LABOUR MARKET – A new deal or another compromise with syndication?

TBS 14th May 2025: Rights body urges syndicate-free hiring as expatriate adviser visits Malaysia

FMT 14th May 2025: Malaysia-Bangladesh labour talks must address cartel issues, says ex-MP as Bangladeshi Expatriates Advisor Arrives in Malaysia

ProthomAlo 18th April 2025: Bangladesh: Awami League supporters are dropping out, but the ‘Malaysia Circle’ is trying to form again

FMT 7th Apr 2025: Activist warns of syndicate threat to migrant labour reforms in Malaysia

TBS 8th May 2025: Halt Malaysia worker flow if syndicate persists: Labour stakeholders to govt

Bangla News 24 8th 2025: Fraud in manpower export to Malaysia
That dream is still elusive (Bangladeshi Language)

Aliran 8th May 2025: Breaking a 30-year monopoly on Malaysia’s migrant worker medical testing syndicate: Why Fomema should not dominate foreign worker medical screenings in the future – calling for an end to Malaysian foreign worker healthcare/recruitment syndicate

Ratopati 8th May 2025: Foreign employment: Syndicate of manpower professionals in Nepal tries to exclusively send migrant workers to Malaysia (Nepali language)

Madhyahana Daily 7th May 2025: There Is No Possibility Of Forming A Syndicate In Nepal Malaysian Employment: Nepal Labor Minister Bhandari Statement

SajhaSabal 6th May 2025: Foreign Employment Nepal – Malaysia Employment: Are Recruitment Syndicate Operators in Nepal and Malaysia More Powerful Than the Government? Whose Plan Is This? (Bangladeshi Malaysia like recruitment syndicate fears hit Nepal Malaysia recruitment market) (Nepali Language)

5th May 2025 Daily Star: BAIRA urges govt to reopen Malaysian labour market

5th May 2025 Kalerkantho: Fraud in manpower export to Malaysia – 8 billion taka of workers’ money in Swapan’s pocket

5th May Prothomalo: Bangladesh Memorandum to the Chief Advisor – Demand to open Malaysia’s labor market to all legal agencies

Kalerkantho 1 May, 2025: Swapan-Amin’s luxurious life with workers’ money from Bangladesh/Malaysia migrant worker recruitment scam

Kalerkantho 01 May, 2025: Bangladeshi Workers are living inhumane lives in Bangladesh without getting their money back due to Malaysian recruitment syndicate/scam

30th April 2025 Kalerkantho: Swapan-Amin cycle active again – Fraud in manpower export to Malaysia

5th Nov 2024: Bloomberg – Bangladesh Asks Malaysia to Arrest Businessmen in Migrant Trafficking Case

PSM/Rani Rasiah 11th Nov 2024 – Extradition call – Justice in sight for migrant worker recruitment fraud victims?

Daily Star 11th Nov 2024: Dhaka, KL must act to end trafficking

FMT 10th Nov 2024: Govt wants Dhaka to clarify extradition request for duo

FMT 7th Nov 2024: Silence not an option, govt told, as Bangladesh seeks duo’s extradition

Free Malaysia Today 6th Nov 2024: Bestinet founder denies misconduct amid report of extradition

CNA 6th Nov 2024: Bangladesh asks Malaysia to arrest and extradite 2 businessmen over alleged migrant worker trafficking and extortion

Commentary: Anwar faces political tricky situation in tackling migrant labour issues

Corruption crackdown in Bangladesh sends tremors through Malaysia’s migrant labour ecosystem

Malaysia’s bid to revamp hiring of foreign workers faces pushback; activists say country’s reputation at stake

6th Nov 2024: Malaysiakini – Amid extradition call, Bestinet founder denies money laundering claim

Malaysiakini 5th Nov 2024: Bangladesh wants M’sia to extradite Bestinet founder, associate

UCA News 7th Oct 2024: Ending Bangladeshi workers’ Malaysian plight is a test for their leaders

Daily Star 6th Oct 2024: Anwar ibrahim’s visit: A chance to root out graft from labour hiring

SCMP 5th Oct 2024: Malaysia must slash fees, smash cartels to reopen Bangladesh labour market – rights groups

5th Oct 2024: Benar News – Malaysia’s PM Anwar promises Bangladeshi migrant workers will be treated fairly

Reuters Oct 4th 2024: Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim to visit Bangladesh, focus on labour issues

Benar News Oct 4th 2024: PM pledges priority for Bangladesh migrant workers who missed out

Daily Star Oct 5th 2024: Diplomacy – Malaysia entry debacle – Anwar Ibrahim to consider issue of Bangladeshi workers

Daily Star Oct 5th 2024: Amending MoU on Malaysia-bound Bangladeshi workers can bring a sea change

Daily Star 5th Oct 2024:
Labour Export – President seeks support from Malaysia

New Age Oct 5th 2024: Malaysian PM pledges new entry of 18,000 migrant workers from Bangladesh

20th Sept 2024: Prothmalo – Aminul and Ruhul Amin involved in alleged migrant worker syndicate money ‘laundering’ to Malaysia

20th Sept 2024: Scoop – MACC’s Bestinet probe is ‘NFA’, no proof of other money-laundering claims: Azam Baki

20th Sept 2024: Malaysiakini – Bestinet denies money laundering allegations

Daily Star Sept 7th 2024: Dismantling the recruitment syndicate for Malaysian labour market

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

6th July 2024: Migration to Malaysia – Money of all workers who failed to depart as part of alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia to be refunded

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 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

30th May 2024: Comment by Andy Hall, independent migrant worker rights specialist, on ongoing migrant worker management crisis in Malaysia and at KLIA airport today, Bangladeshi workers at high risk of modern slavery

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)

For Immediate Release 27th May 2024: Statement by Andy Hall, Independent Migrant Worker Rights Specialist, on today’s public release of UN OHCHR’s unanswered urgent appeal communications to the Malaysian and Bangladeshi Governments

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

22nd May 2024: UN expert – Malaysian law enforcement mixing up human trafficking, migrant smuggling – “What steps has Malaysia taken to investigate alleged complicity of public officials in human trafficking?’’

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

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)

25th March 2024: Bangladeshi workers (alleged victims of criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia) claim being coerced into withdrawing police and labour complaints

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

FMT 11th Mar 2024: Duped migrant jobseekers, victims of alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangaldeshi workers to Malaysia for forced labour, face mental health issues, says Malaysian ex-MP

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

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

4th March 2024 URGENT call for donations/support: joining forces with HOPE SELANGOR to fill gap in providing humanitarian aid and assistance to victims of criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers into forced labour in Malaysia

Mar 3rd 2024: Concern on repatriation of potential trafficking and forced labour/abuse victims under Malaysian Migrant Worker Repatriation Programme Commencing 1st March 2024 (Statement by Andy Hall, Independent Migrant Worker Rights Specialist)

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

23rd Oct 2023: RESPONSE FROM THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES IN REGARDS TO AN ARTICLE BY MR. ANDY HALL/HR Minister – strict actions against employers who fail to comply with Malaysia’s labour and immigration laws

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

12th July 2023: excellent final offering from a 4 part account of atypical modern-day slavery, forced labour and abuse perpetrated against a group of migrant workers from Bangladesh in Malaysia, written concisely and passionately by former MP from Malaysia Charles Santiago

Aljazeera News TV 10th July 2023 – Migrants in Malaysia: Hundreds left stranded in recruitment scam

The post 15th May 2026: IOM (International Organisation for Migration)/UN agencies Additional Statement on alleged misrepresentations of Bestinet/FWCMS re: alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia appeared first on Andy Hall.

12th May 2026: International Labour Organization (ILO)/UN agencies statement on alleged misrepresentations of Bestinet/FWCMS re: alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia

Andy Hall — Tue, 12 May 2026 05:04:22 +0000

12th May 2026: International Labour Organization (ILO)/UN agencies statement on alleged misrepresentations of Bestinet/FWCMS re: alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia

Edge 12th May 2026: International Labour Organization denies endorsing Bestinet migrant worker platform, rejects UN recognition claim

FMT 12th May 2026: ILO denies recognising Bestinet’s foreign worker system

Vibes 12th May 2026: Bestinet Concession “built on misrepresentations” and approved without sufficient scrutiny – Santiago

Star 12th May 2026: Migrant workers in Malaysia should not be burdened by recruitment fees, said ILO

12 May 2026: UN Statement

The principle that all jobseekers, particularly vulnerable migrant workers, should not be charged recruitment fees and related costs is central to the concept of fair and ethical recruitment.

Despite these good intentions, around 2023, reports started to surface about Bangladeshi workers arriving in Malaysia with valid work permits, only to discover that promised jobs were non-existent. In May 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) expressed concerns over the plight of the affected workers and offered support to address the immediate needs of the migrant workers and to support the Government of Malaysia with reviewing the current labour migration system, drawing on international standards and good practices, and supporting constructive policy dialogue to develop a transparent and efficient labour migration process.

To avoid any misunderstanding on these claims and to clarify the facts:

The FWCMS is not a UN recognized platform. The official title of the award is World Summit Awards (WSA). The WSA is one of the activities of the non-profit organization International Center for New Media. While the WSA was initiated within the context of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and is aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, it is not an award issued by the United Nations. Hence the award while indeed bona fide, does not imply UN recognition.
ILO provided preliminary comments at the proposal stage, as presented, in 2013. To quote from the comments: “On 10 April 2013, the Executive Directors of Bestinet provided a briefing at the ILO Regional Office in Bangkok on the Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS). The ILO is interested to learn about any rights-based initiative that seeks to improve orderly labour migration flows and enhance protection for foreign workers in line with international standards, and is developed in consultation with social partners. The ILO found the Bestinet proposal to be well-presented, innovative, comprehensive and demonstrate a good understanding of some of the challenges faced in the effective management of labour migration. Beyond this, the ILO does not know of the credentials or competence of Bestinet to carry out the proposed system, and these comments should not be construed as an endorsement of the company.”
These comments were made in relation to the initial concept/proposal and should not be taken as applying to, or endorsing, any subsequent implementation.

Sourced from: https://www.ilo.org/resource/statement/international-labour-organization-statement-promoting-fair-and-effective

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Kathmandu Post 8th June 2025: Nepal Malaysia migration corridor – Attempts to impose a total employment syndicate from Nepal to Malaysia have raised concerns (My Op Ed)

My Opinion Piece 12th August 2025: As Anwar meets Yunus, Corrupted Bangladesh Malaysia Recruitment Corridor Needs Reform

Charles Santiago Statement 12th May 2026: The Bestinet FWCMS Deal Must be Shelved: Built on Misrepresentations; Shielded from Scrutiny (day one)

Charles Santiago Statement 13th May 2026: The Bestinet FWCMS Deal Must be Shelved: Built on Misrepresentations; Shielded from Scrutiny (day two)

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Previous Official UN communications on the Issue (available in full on request from andy@andyjhall.org)

Bangladesh OHCHR.pdfDownload

Malaysia OHCHR.pdfDownload

Briefing to the OHCHR (Final Draft).docxDownload

Bangladesh response to OHCHR.pdfDownload

Malaysia response to OHCHR.pdfDownload

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Previous Related 2024/2025 UN Statements

Sourced from: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/11/malaysia-un-experts-sound-alarm-over-continued-systematic-exploitation

#Malaysia : UN experts call for urgent measures to address dire situation of Bangladeshi migrants and urge Malaysian authorities to protect them from exploitation, criminalisation & other #HumanRights abuses.https://t.co/VxFMzehhmP pic.twitter.com/9LYBltWIee
— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) April 19, 2024

*The experts:

Tomoya Obokata, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences;
Gehad Madi, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants;
Pichamon Yeophantong (Chairperson), Damilola Olawuyi (Vice-Chairperson), Fernanda Hopenhaym, Lyra Jakulevičienė and Robert McCorquodale, Working Group on business and human rights.