Bangladesh–Malaysia Labour Migration Corridor: No Reopening Without Transparency and Accountability

MWN Calls for Fair Recruitment, Zero Recruitment Costs, and a Legally Binding Bilateral Labour Agreement

UN Agencies Must Promote Adherence to International Standards and Protection of Migrant Workers’ Rights

Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) Official Press Statement

Date: 29 August 2026 Dhaka, Bangladesh Sourced from: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CJLzbm42s/?mibextid=wwXIfr

MIGRANT WELFARE NETWORK (MWN)

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Bangladesh–Malaysia Labor Migration Corridor: No Reopening Without Transparency and Accountability

UN Agencies Must Promote Adherence to International Standards and Protection of

Migrant Workers’ Rights

29 August 2026

Dhaka, Bangladesh —

The Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) once again expresses its deep concern over the proposed new recruitment system for the reopening of the Bangladesh–Malaysia labour migration corridor, which has previously been associated with serious allegations of exploitation, excessive recruitment costs, fraud and violations of migrant workers’ rights.

The recruitment system reportedly announced by the Government of Bangladesh yesterday again proposes to limit, without sufficient public justification, the number of manpower agencies permitted to deploy Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia.

MWN believes that any new recruitment mechanism must be transparent, accountable, independently monitored and fully consistent with international labor and human right standards.

Lessons from the Previous System Must Not Be Ignored

In 2024, UN human rights experts raised serious concerns regarding fraudulent recruitment, excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, deception of workers and cases in which Bangladeshi workers arrived in Malaysia only to discover that the jobs they had been promised did not exist.

Around the same period, the International Labor Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly emphasized the need to review the Bangladesh–Malaysia labor migration system against international standards and good practices and to establish a transparent and efficient labor migration process.

In 2025, UN human rights experts again expressed concern regarding abuses occurring along this troubled migration corridor.

In 2026, both the ILO and IOM publicly reaffirmed international standards on fair recruitment and the principle that workers should not bear recruitment fees and related costs.

UN agencies ILO and IOM have also repeatedly raised concerns regarding the lack of transparency and risks ofexploitation associated with Malaysia’s Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS) and the wider migration management process.

Against this background, MWN believes that reopening the Bangladesh–Malaysia labor migration corridor without addressing the structural weaknesses of the previous system would not constitute a genuine or sustainable solution.

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Daily Star 31st August Op Ed: Bangladesh and Malaysia must break the recruitment syndicate’s grip

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The Previous MoU Was Not Enough

The previous Bangladesh–Malaysia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) failed to provide an adequate and sufficiently enforceable framework for the protection of migrant workers, transparency and accountability across the migration management system.

Simply reproducing the weaknesses of the previous system under a new recruitment arrangement risks repeating the exploitation, excessive recruitment costs, fraudulent practices and other abuses experienced by migrant workers in the past.

Bangladesh must not repeat a system that has already demonstrated serious structural weaknesses.

Transparency and Meaningful Participation Are Essential

MWN is also deeply concerned about the lack of transparency and meaningful stakeholder participation in the current negotiations concerning the reopening of the Bangladesh–Malaysia labor migration corridor.

Any system that determines the future of hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi migrant workers must not be negotiated and implemented behind closed doors.

Migrant workers and their representative organizations, civil society, labor-rights organizations, human-rights organizations and other relevant stakeholders must have meaningful opportunities to participate in the policy and negotiation process.

MWN’S DEMANDS

Before reopening the Bangladesh–Malaysia labor migration corridor, the two governments must establish an inclusive, transparently negotiated and legally binding Bilateral Labor Agreement (BLA) that places migrant workers’ rights and protection at its center.

At a minimum, the agreement must guarantee:

 No recruitment fees or unreasonable migration costs imposed on workers;

 Full transparency and accountability throughout the recruitment process;

 Effective regulation, monitoring and accountability of recruitment agencies and employers;

 Protection of promised jobs, wages, contracts and working conditions;

 Prevention of passport confiscation, wage withholding, forced labor and other forms of exploitation;

 Accessible and effective complaint, legal assistance and remedy mechanisms for migrant workers;

 Independent monitoring, investigation and meaningful penalties for violations; and

 Meaningful participation of migrant workers, civil society and labor-rights organizations in the development, implementation and monitoring of the system.

FWCMS-Based Recruitment Must Meet International Standards

MWN does not consider the proposed FWCMS-based system acceptable merely because it limits the number of manpower agencies involved in deploying workers.

Limiting the number of recruitment agencies is not, by itself, evidence of transparency, accountability or fair recruitment.

Any new system must demonstrably guarantee the protection of migrant workers’ rights, prevent excessive recruitment costs and ensure accountability for every actor involved in the recruitment and migration process.

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Prothomalo Investigates 2nd Sept 2026: Bangladesh labour market – Malaysian gang is now using a different tactic

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The central question must not be how many agencies are permitted to recruit workers, but rather:

How transparent is the system?

How much does a worker actually pay?

Who receives those payments?

What job, wage and working conditions are promised?

Are those promises honored after workers arrive in Malaysia?

Who is held accountable when recruitment agencies or employers violate workers’ rights?

Can workers obtain effective remedy when abuses occur?

“ZERO-COST” WORKERS CANNOT REPLACE SYSTEMIC REFORM

MWN also emphasizes that any limited concession or proposal to send a specific number of

Bangladeshi workers under a “zero-cost” arrangement cannot substitute for addressing the structural weaknesses of the recruitment system.

A genuine zero-recruitment-cost system must clearly establish who bears the costs of recruitment, visas, medical examinations, training, transportation, documentation, agency services and other related expenses.

It must also include effective monitoring and enforcement to ensure that costs are not secretly transferred to workers through intermediaries, informal payments or other mechanisms.

A limited number of “zero-cost” workers cannot be used to justify or legitimize a recruitment system that remains structurally vulnerable to exploitation.

A CALL TO UN AGENCIES

MWN calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), ILO, IOM and UNODC to follow up on their previous statements and publicly reaffirm their concerns regarding compliance with international standards in the Bangladesh–Malaysia labor migration system and the role of FWCMS.

If the proposed new system fails to meet international standards concerning migrant workers’ rights, fair recruitment, transparency and accountability, the relevant UN agencies should publicly reaffirm their positions and take appropriate policy and diplomatic action to encourage the Governments of Bangladesh and Malaysia to address these shortcomings before reopening the corridor.

MWN further calls upon UN agencies and the ILO to ensure that their technical assistance to both governments is consistent with international standards and is directed toward building a transparent, rights-based and accountable labor migration system.

Training of Government Officials Must Lead to Concrete Reform

MWN notes that in late July 2026, Malaysian government officials received ILO training aimed at strengthening their capacity to negotiate bilateral labor migration agreements.

MWN believes that similar capacity-building and technical training should urgently be provided to Bangladeshi government officials.

At the same time, the ILO should encourage the Malaysian Government to apply the principles and lessons from such training when negotiating the reopening of the Bangladesh–Malaysia labor migration corridor.

Most importantly, the reopening should be preceded by an effective and legally binding Bilateral Labor Agreement that provides clear and enforceable protections for migrant workers.

MWN’S POSITION IS CLEAR

“NO TRANSPARENCY, NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO WORKERS’ PROTECTION — NO

REOPENING OF THE MIGRATION CORRIDOR.”

The Bangladesh–Malaysia labor migration corridor can and should be reopened.

However, it must only be reopened on the basis of:

 Migrant Workers’ Rights

 Fair Recruitment

 Zero Recruitment Costs for Workers

 Transparency

 Accountability

 Worker Protection

 Independent Monitoring

 Effective Remedy

 Meaningful Stakeholder Participation

 A Legally Binding Bilateral Labor Agreement

The reopening of the corridor must not be driven solely by the number of workers who can be deployed or the number of recruitment agencies permitted to participate.

The priority must be the rights, dignity, safety and long-term protection of migrant workers.

MWN therefore calls upon the Governments of Bangladesh and Malaysia, OHCHR, ILO, IOM and UNODC to ensure that no reopening takes place until the necessary structural reforms, safeguards and legally binding protections are in place.

Migrant workers deserve a migration system that is transparent, fair, accountable and free from exploitation.

Migrant Welfare Network (MWN)

29 August 2026

— END 

Edge Weekly

Alternative Views: Opaque labour recruitment system warrants scrutiny

By M Shanmugam / The Edge Malaysia

07 Sep 2026, 01:30 pm

Sourced from: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/817026

There are claims that different standards are applied to foreign recruitment agencies in South Asia, compared with those in the Philippines and Indonesia (Photo by Shahrin Yahya/The Edge)

This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on September 7, 2026 – September 13, 2026

The vigour with which the government is taking action against high-ranking ex-officials of Lembaga Tabung Haji for the alleged mismanagement of funds is, unfortunately, not evident in another simmering issue — the opaque recruitment process of foreign workers, which has hit a raw nerve among labour supply industry groups in Bangladesh and Nepal.

The pushback against the Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS), which is now under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Human Resources, suggests that something is amiss with how the platform works.

Last week, umbrella bodies representing foreign labour recruitment agencies in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Pakistan signed a joint statement rejecting the FWCMS. The groups claim that the FWCMS, in its current form, does not allow equal access to all foreign worker employment agencies located in the source countries to be registered on the platform.

They claim that different standards are applied to foreign recruitment agencies in South Asia, compared with those in the Philippines and Indonesia.

As can be seen since 2012, the recruitment of foreign workers, especially from Bangladesh and Nepal, is big business. Hundreds of millions of ringgit change hands and are largely unaccounted for. In Bangladesh, politicians get a percentage of the proceeds.

Coincidentally, the labour market in Malaysia tends to open up, especially to workers from Bangladesh, when a general election is around the corner. It happened in 2012, 2018, 2022 and now, in 2026, when speculation is rife that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will call for elections.

In the current storm, the crux of the objection to the FWCMS is the limitations imposed on foreign employment agencies for direct registration on the platform. In the case of Nepal and Bangladesh, Malaysia has chosen 25 companies from each country to be directly registered on the platform. For India and Pakistan, the number is restricted to 10 each.

There are 423 foreign labour recruitment firms registered in Bangladesh and about 1,100 in Nepal. Following protests from the recruitment agencies in Bangladesh, Malaysia allowed another 325 firms to act as “associate recruitment agents” to pacify the industry players.

The role of the “associate recruitment agents” is not clear.

In Nepal, the foreign labour recruitment agents are protesting against the selection of the 25 companies.

Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies president Dil Bahadur Khatri puts it plainly: “What criteria has Malaysia used to choose the 25 companies out of 1,100 recruitment agencies in Nepal? Previously, there were no restrictions on companies to access the FWCMS platform. As long as they were registered with the Nepal government, they could access the system.

“Why not allow all the companies to access the FWCMS as was the practice in previous years?” Dil Bahadur asks when contacted by The Edge.

The imposition of restrictions by Malaysia on recruitment companies in Bangladesh is not new. It happened in 2012, 2016 and 2022. Each time it happened, there was pushback from the recruitment companies in that country.

In 2012, under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between both countries, only 10 Bangladesh companies were allowed to handle the migration of unskilled labour to Malaysia. The MOU was subsequently modified and eventually dropped due to allegations of high migration costs incurred by the workers.

In 2016, the countries signed another MOU, but it was also not implemented following protests in Bangladesh and concerns raised in Malaysia over the large number of foreign workers entering the country.

In 2018, when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad became prime minister, he suspended the entry of foreign workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia.

In 2022, the number of recruiting firms in Bangladesh was restricted to 10 and eventually expanded to 102 after the recruitment agents protested.

By then, the home ministry was already using the FWCMS but the “source code” for the system was still held by Bestinet Sdn Bhd, as a deal between the government and Bestinet had not been firmed up. The ministry only took over the FWCMS in September 2024.

According to a White Paper on the state of Bangladesh’s economy released in late 2024, one of the reasons its workers have to incur high costs to come to Malaysia is the restriction on the number of foreign labour recruitment companies allowed to access the FWCMS.

It said that recruitment agents who were not among the 102 firms given access to the platform had to pay additional fees to get their workers into the system.

Eventually, the cost for the workers increases, with the bulk of the money going to agents and middle-men in both countries.

According to the White Paper, the estimated cost for each worker came up to 550,000 Bangladeshi takas (about US$5,046) then, way above the official charge.

In May 2024, four months before the home ministry took over the platform, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail suspended the entry of unskilled workers from Bangladesh due to concerns about security and because many workers were coming into Malaysia without a job already secured.

At the moment, the human resources and home ministries are responsible for the entry of foreign workers into the country.

The human resources ministry, helmed by Datuk Seri R Ramanan, is in charge of setting the quota, verifying with employers, and handling all other logistical requirements, including dealing with the recruitment agents. The home ministry handles the security aspect of the workers’ entry.

Both ministries are led by ministers from Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

The first batch of 10,000 workers from Bangladesh is expected to come to Malaysia at the end of this month.

They will be travelling to Malaysia completely free and their processing is being handled by government-owned firm, Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Ltd. The aim is to set a new precedent for bringing the migration cost to zero.

Whether this practice can be sustained is left to be seen, especially since Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, adviser to the Bangladeshi prime minister, was reported as saying recently that Malaysia had expressed interest in recruiting another 200,000 workers in the next six months.

Minister of Communications Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Ramanan have dismissed Zahed’s claim. Ramanan said that the permits for unskilled foreign workers would be issued based on industry needs.

While it is good that the ministers have clarified the issue of the entry of foreign workers, there are still many unanswered questions concerning the use of the FWCMS and the adoption of different standards in different countries.

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Prothomalo Investigates 2nd Sept 2026: Bangladesh labour market – Malaysian gang is now using a different tactic

Mohiuddin, Dhaka

02 September 2026,

Valuka Overseas, which received a recruiting agency license in 2022, has received clearance to send 235 workers as of August 23. Of these, no workers are going to Malaysia. However, this organization is on the list of 25 agencies selected to send workers to Malaysia.

Owner of Bhaluka Overseas, Md. Abu Sohag Khan told Prothom Alo, he had previously sent more than 1,000 workers to Malaysia under the name of various agencies. He has also sent them to Saudi Arabia. This time he has got the opportunity to send workers directly. He was automatically selected from Malaysia. No one had to pay any money for this.

A total of 25 agencies, including Bhaluka Overseas, have now been given the opportunity to send workers to Malaysia. Some members of the recruiting agency owners’ organization, BAIRA, say that this time the names of the previous agencies are not available. Like before, the names of the ministers or members of parliament’s organizations are not directly available. However, behind the unknown agencies are the same old masters of creating syndicates. This time, they have created syndicates using a different strategy. As a result, workers may have to spend 6-7 lakh taka to go to Malaysia this time. Last time, an average of 544 thousand taka was spent on each worker, according to a study by five organizations, including the US-based non-governmental development organization Verite Inc.

It is alleged that Amin Noor controls the entire business of sending workers from Malaysia. Ruhul Amin alias Swapan, former secretary general of the recruiting agency owners’ organization Bayra, works as his representative in Bangladesh. The two of them together determine who will be in the circle.

Read more
Malaysia’s labor market is opening up
August 29, 2026

Prothom Alo has collected data from 25 selected agencies for almost 23 years (from January 2004 to August 23). Analyzing this data from the Bangladesh Manpower, Employment and Training Bureau (BME), it was found that 17 of the 25 agencies have no experience in sending workers to Malaysia. The remaining 8 agencies have sent 1,612 workers together. Out of which 11, 74, 100, 150 and 202 workers went to 5 agencies. The other 3 left 436, 333 and 306 workers respectively.

Malaysia has not yet specified any specific criteria for finalizing the agency. The opportunity has been taken by Bestinet, the company that owns Mygram, the software for recruiting Malaysian workers in the Foreign Workers Central Management System (FWCMS). It is owned by Aminul Islam bin Abdul Noor, a Bangladeshi-born Malaysian citizen, known as Amin Noor.

It is alleged that Amin Noor controls the entire business of sending workers from Malaysia. Ruhul Amin alias Swapan, former secretary general of the recruiting agency owners’ organization Bayra, works as his representative in Bangladesh. The two of them have decided together who will be in the circle. Swapan has been hiding abroad since the fall of the Awami League in the 24th mass uprising. His agency’s license has been revoked, a case is underway against him, and the ACC is also investigating.

State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md. Nurul Haque told Prothom Alo that the interim government has sent a list of 423 agencies. From that, Malaysia has selected 25 like them and finalized them. Along with this, Malaysia has given 338 agencies the opportunity to cooperate at the request of the government. All in all, it has been more positive than before. The ministry will set a limit to send workers at a lower cost. And if any agency accused of trafficking or corruption is on the list, it will be reported to Malaysia. Their licenses will also be revoked.

Like before, this time too, the syndicate has been formed, with a slightly new strategy. This will increase the cost of the workers. If there had been a thorough investigation, these unsavory agencies would not have been named.
Riazul Islam, recently retired senior vice president of BAIRA.

The accused in the case are also on the list.

The 17 agencies that do not have experience sending workers to Malaysia are Tania Trade, Satkhira International, A-Plus, Al Hayat Overseas, Veli Trade, Khan Jahan Ali Overseas, Bengal Human Resources, Earth Smart, At Taqwa, Motherland, Mangrove, Jewel Rinku Enterprise, Bangladesh One Overseas, Anbesha Air, Chandpur International, Godness Services and Bhaluka Overseas.

The agency called The Anchor Care Global Migration and Consultant has received clearances to send only 371 workers in total. Of these, 11 are from Malaysia. And Bangladesh One Overseas Limited has received clearances for a total of 795 people. Of these, no workers have experience in sending to Malaysia. These two agencies are also on the list of 25 agencies this time.

There is an agency named United Gulf Services on the list. It is owned by Laila Arjuman Banu. Previously, her husband Abdul Hai’s company Greenland Overseas was a member of the gang. It is now run by their daughter Rehana Arjuman Hai. Laila called Arjuman Banu several times to inquire about this, but she did not pick up. Her daughter also did not pick up the phone.

Baira members say that this time the syndicate fee will be 5,500 Malaysian ringgit (168,000 taka). Apart from this, 8-9,000 ringgit (265,000 taka) will have to be paid to buy each visa, that is, to bring the worker’s request letter. In this way, more than 430,000 taka will be smuggled into Malaysia per worker.

Read more
Workers will start going to Malaysia from September, 10,000 will go free of cost
August 30, 2026

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) sent a letter to the BMET on July 23 seeking information from 57 agencies in connection with the investigation. It said that the ACC had filed a case against 5 agencies in June last year for allegedly trafficking women abroad by preparing fake documents in collusion with dishonest BMET officials. The investigation into that case has revealed allegations against 52 more agencies. These include the three agencies selected to send workers to Malaysia this time—Godness Service Limited, General Trading Company and Rifa International. Godness has no experience in sending workers to Malaysia, while the other two have sent some workers. The owners of these three agencies were not reached even after calling them separately.

Baira members say that this time the syndicate fee will be 5,500 Malaysian ringgit (168,000 taka). Apart from this, 8-9,000 ringgit (265,000 taka) will have to be paid to buy each visa, that is, to bring the worker’s request letter. In this way, more than 430,000 taka will be smuggled into Malaysia per worker.

Eleven countries, including Bangladesh, are on the list of sending workers to Malaysia. However, no country except Bangladesh has such a cycle system.

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Malaysiakini 2nd Sept – Fahmi: ‘200k workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia’ claim not official position

Alyaa Alhadjri
Published: Sep 2, 2026

A reported statement quoting the Bangladesh government that Malaysia plans to recruit 200,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next six months does not represent that country’s official position, said government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil today.
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FMT 1st Sept 2026: Malaysia to take in 200,000 workers from Bangladesh in 6 months

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Speaking at a post-cabinet press conference in Putrajaya, the communications minister said Human Resources Minister R Ramanan informed him that the statement was made by a junior minister and was not an official position of Bangladesh.

“I contacted the human resources minister (Ramanan) on the matter, and he said that it is not an official statement by the Bangladesh government.

“I was made to understand the statement was issued by a junior minister, and so it does not represent the Bangladesh government’s official stand,” he said.

Fahmi was responding to media reports quoting Bangladesh’s Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Junior Minister Mir Shahe Alam as saying Malaysia would recruit about 200,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next six months.
Shahe Alam reportedly said the workers would be recruited in phases through companies approved by Malaysian authorities, with the process beginning at the end of September and completed within six months.Bangladesh’s Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Junior Minister Mir Shahe Alam

“They (Malaysia) will hire about 200,000 workers. Of them, they will hire 10,000 workers free of cost,” he was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

Malaysian media, citing the report, stated that Shahe Alam made the announcement after a meeting in Dhaka between Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shuhada Othman and Bangladesh Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan.

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MIGRATION

New Age 30th August 2026: FOUR OF 25 AGENCIES SELECTED FOR BANGLADESH MALAYSIA LABOUR MIGRATION MARKET FACE ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION (ACC) PROBE

by Rashad Ahamad

Sourced from: https://rashadahamad.wordpress.com/2026/08/30/four-of-25-agencies-selected-for-malaysia-labour-market-face-acc-probe/

Four of the 25 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies selected ahead of the possible reopening of Malaysia’s labour market are facing an investigation by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission into alleged human trafficking and document forgery, raising fresh questions about the selection of the agencies from more than 2,600 licensed recruiters.

The four agencies — Goodness Services Limited, Vely Trade International, Rifa International and General Trading Company — are among 57 recruiting agencies named in an ACC case filed in July 2025 over alleged document forgery and trafficking of women abroad.

Being named in the case does not establish wrongdoing, and the ACC investigation is ongoing.

The 25 agencies were listed this week on Malaysia’s Foreign Workers Centralised Management System, or FWCMS, as Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur move towards resuming recruitment of Bangladeshi workers. Malaysia suspended recruitment from Bangladesh on May 31, 2024.

The basis for selecting the 25 agencies, however, remains unclear. Recruiting agencies and migration-sector organisations have protested against the process, alleging that it could create another recruitment syndicate.

Expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment secretary Md Mokhtar Ahmed said he was unaware of how the list had been finalised.

State minister for expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment Mohammad Nurul Haque also said he did not know the basis of the selection.

Mokhtar said Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and adviser Mahdi Amin had been involved in negotiations with Malaysia.

Neither Ariful nor Mahdi responded to requests for comment.

An ACC official said the commission had found evidence related to the alleged trafficking but was continuing its investigation to establish the involvement of the individuals and agencies concerned.

Goodness Services managing director Md Sayful Islam said he was unaware that his agency had been named in the ACC case.

He said his agency had applied to the government for permission to recruit workers for Malaysia, as other agencies had done.

Senior officials of the other three agencies could not be reached for comment.

Selection process under scrutiny

The Trade Union–Civil Society Action Alliance on Monday demanded that the government publicly disclose the criteria used to select the 25 agencies, their mandate and role, and how job demands would be distributed among them.

The alliance also called for disclosure of all recruitment-related costs, including the maximum amount workers would have to pay and the costs employers would bear.

Bangladesh has more than 2,600 licensed recruiting agencies. During negotiations over reopening the Malaysian market, Bangladesh submitted a list of 432 agencies it considered eligible for recruitment.

It remains unclear how that list was reduced to 25 and what role, if any, the Bangladesh government played in the final selection.

Memories of syndication

Malaysia has long been a major destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, but recruitment has repeatedly been suspended amid allegations of corruption and irregularities.

Malaysia stopped recruiting Bangladeshi workers in 2009. Recruitment resumed in late 2016 but was suspended again in September 2018. It resumed in 2022 before being halted in May 2024.

The 2022 arrangement initially involved 25 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies and was later expanded to about 100. In 2016, only 10 agencies were initially permitted to participate.

Migration rights activists alleged that such restricted arrangements allowed syndicates to control access to the Malaysian labour market and contributed to migration costs far exceeding government-approved rates.

According to Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training data, nearly 1.3 million Bangladeshis have migrated to Malaysia since 2009.

Shakirul Islam, founder and chairperson of Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program, said corruption and excessive migration costs had historically plagued recruitment to Malaysia.

‘Organised mafias from both countries have controlled the market by manipulating governments. This time, they are not on the frontline but are using shadow agencies from the back door,’ he said.

With four of the newly selected agencies now under ACC investigation, migration experts say the government faces renewed pressure to demonstrate that the recruitment process is transparent, competitive and free from conflicts of interest before the Malaysian labour market reopens.

Published on New Age

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LABOUR RIGHTS, MIGRATION

New Age 30th Aug 2026: MALAYSIA’S NEW Bangladesh 25-AGENCY LIST REVIVES FEARS OF RECRUITMENT SYNDICATION

by Rashad Ahamad

Sourced from: https://rashadahamad.wordpress.com/2026/08/30/malaysias-new-25-agency-list-revives-fears-of-recruitment-syndication/

Malaysia has approved 25 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies ahead of a possible reopening of its labour market to new workers from Bangladesh, triggering fresh concerns among migration experts and rights activists that a small group of agencies could once again dominate recruitment.

The concerns revive memories of a controversial recruitment arrangement under which a limited number of Bangladeshi agencies controlled access to the Malaysian labour market, contributing to allegations of corruption, inflated migration costs and worker exploitation.

Malaysia suspended the recruitment of new Bangladeshi workers on May 31, 2024. Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur have since been negotiating the resumption of recruitment.

The latest list was published on Malaysia’s Foreign Workers Centralised Management System, a government-recognised online platform used for foreign-worker recruitment.

The 25 agencies are Bangladesh One Overseas Ltd, Bengal Human Resources Development, General Trading Company, M/S United Gulf Services, Annesa Air International, Att-Taqwa Overseas Ltd, Earth-Smart Bangladesh Ltd, Khan Jahan Ali Overseas, M/S Al-Shupto Overseas, Motherland Overseas Ltd, Rifa International, Vely Trade International, A-Plus International, Al-Hayat Overseas, Bhaluka Overseas, Brothers Trading & Contracting Ltd, Chandpur International, Country Employment Agency, Goodness Services Limited, Jewel Rinku Enterprise, M/S Satkhira International, Mangrove Career Link, Neighbour Associates Ltd, Tania Trade International and The Anchor Care Global Migration.

‘This is clearly a case of market syndication. Different players may be involved this time, but corruption and irregularities could again affect the labour market,’ said Shariful Hasan, associate director and head of the Migration Programme and BRAC Youth Platform.

An analysis of the selected agencies has also raised questions about their recent overseas recruitment experience, ownership and connections.

Mangrove Career Link, for example, is managed by Sabiha Sultana, wife of Juba Dal central committee vice-president Md Atiqur Rahman Biswas, who also owns another recruiting agency, Al Aqaba Associates.

Atiqur denied having any business relationship with Mangrove Career Link, saying there was only a family connection.

Both agencies, however, use the same office address.

Farid Ahmed Mazumder, secretary general of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh and proprietor of M/S Al-Shupto Overseas, said his agency had been selected for the first time.

He said his agency was primarily involved in Hajj-related activities and that he did not know the criteria used to select it.

Fears of higher migration costs

The prospect of a new closed recruitment system has raised concerns about the cost for workers.

At a press conference on August 19, general members of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies alleged that the cost of securing a place in the Malaysian recruitment arrangement had risen to about Tk 17.5 crore, from around Tk 5 crore previously.

They warned that the additional cost could ultimately be transferred to workers, potentially pushing the cost of migration to Tk 800,000–1 million per worker.

Lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah also alleged that politically connected people had benefited from the previous syndicate and questioned whether proxy companies were now being used.

New Age could not independently verify the allegations.

Bangladesh’s expatriates’ welfare ministry, meanwhile, said Malaysia had selected the agencies.

State minister for expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment Mohammad Nurul Haque said he was not involved in the negotiations and was unaware of how the list had been finalised.

Asked whether the arrangement could create another recruitment syndicate, he said the possibility could not be ruled out.

Expatriates’ welfare minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and special assistant Mahdi Amin did not respond to requests for comment.

Questions over selection

Bangladesh has more than 2,600 licensed recruiting agencies. Before the latest Malaysian list, the Bangladesh government had prepared and sent Malaysia a list of 432 agencies it considered eligible to recruit workers.

Malaysia had previously proposed criteria including large office space, owned training facilities and a record of sending at least 5,000 workers abroad during the preceding three years

Bangladesh objected to some of the conditions and submitted its own list.

Sector insiders said several of the 25 agencies selected by Malaysia did not appear to have the office capacity or recent overseas recruitment record envisaged under the earlier criteria.

They also alleged political connections involving some selected agencies, but New Age could not independently verify those claims.

Memories of the previous syndicate

The latest list has particular significance because the previous recruitment arrangement also started with 25 Bangladeshi agencies in 2022 and was later expanded to about 100.

The arrangement was widely criticised as a syndicate, with allegations that a small group controlled access to Malaysian employers and charged other agencies substantial amounts to process workers.

Migration rights activists said the system contributed to migration costs far exceeding government-approved rates, leaving many workers heavily indebted before departure.

Malaysia is one of Bangladesh’s major overseas labour markets. According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training, nearly 1.3 million Bangladeshis have migrated to Malaysia since 2009.

Recruitment has repeatedly been suspended amid allegations of irregularities. Malaysia stopped recruiting Bangladeshi workers in 2009, reopened the market in late 2016 and suspended recruitment again in September 2018. Recruitment resumed in 2022 before being halted in 2024.

Migration experts said a transparent selection process and open access for all qualified recruiting agencies would be essential to prevent another closed recruitment system.

Otherwise, they warned, migrant workers could once again bear the cost through excessive fees for access to jobs in Malaysia.

Published on New Age

—

Daily Sun 31st Aug 2026: Reopening of Malaysian Labour Market – Old wine, new bottle!

Daily Star 30th Aug 2026: Malaysia to hire 200,000 Bangladeshi workers in six months

Prothomalo 30th Aug 2026: Labour migration to Malaysia to resume in Sept, 10000 to go free of charge

Daily Star 28th Aug 2026: 338 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies can send workers to Malaysia: Ministry – 25 agencies selected directly, 312 to work as associates, while BOESL will also take part

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Vibes 26th Aug 2026: ‘Explain why recruitment of Nepali workers restricted’ – Charles Santiago – Nepal was neither consulted nor informed about the change, with Kathmandu only discovering the decision after the list was posted online.

By New Straits Times

August 26, 2026

MUHAMMAD SULAIMAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago has questioned the Human Resources Ministry’s decision to restrict the recruitment of Nepali workers to just 25 agencies.

He warned the move risks repeating a “failed model” previously seen in the Bangladesh-Malaysia labour corridor

Santiago said until last Friday, employers were free to recruit through any agency licensed by Nepal. 

However, they are now limited to 25 agencies listed on the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS) portal.

There are an estimated 400,000 Nepali workers in Malaysia, he said

“What is the value of our labour Memorandum of Understanding if Malaysia acts unilaterally whenever it suits us?” he said in a statement.

He said the Human Resources Ministry must disclose the criteria and eligibility requirements used to select the 25 agencies. 

He also urged the ministry to clarify who made the decision and why the process lacked transparency.

Drawing a parallel with the previous restriction of the Bangladesh-Malaysia recruitment corridor to a small number of agencies, Santiago said that such moves had previously enabled syndicates to take hold. 

“Why is Malaysia now repeating the same failed model with Nepal?” he questioned.

In 2022, the Human Resources Ministry accredited 25 companies to recruit workers from Bangladesh, with then minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan saying the move was meant to avoid monopolistic practices and safeguard workers’ welfare. 

Charles said the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies responded by suspending the membership of all 25 selected agencies. 

He added that Malaysia’s unilateral decision has disrupted recruitment and damaged trust with a key labour-sending partner.

However, according to OnlineKhabar, the 25 listed agencies have since agreed to voluntarily withdraw from the FWCMS platform following discussions convened by Nepal’s Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment. 

This was quoted by the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies’ general secretary, Hari Bahadur Dangi.

The agencies stated that a system limiting recruitment opportunities to only a few was not in their long-term interest, Dangi said, adding that they would be required to submit a formal commitment to the association.

According to OnlineKhabar, Nepal’s Youth, Labour and Employment Minister Ramji Yadav separately informed Malaysia’s acting ambassador that labour migration issues should be resolved through bilateral dialogue.

Santiago said limiting market access to 25 agencies concentrates the industry in a few hands, weakening competition and risking a higher debt burden for workers.

“The Human Resources Ministry’s unilateral decision has come at a cost. 

It has undermined the trust between both countries, disrupting the recruitment of workers and operational planning for Malaysian employers. 

So how exactly is the ministry’s plan benefiting Malaysia?” he questioned.

The Human Resources Ministry has been contacted for comment.

Malaysia implemented the FWCMS-based recruitment framework on Aug 22, under which employers can only recruit foreign workers through agencies registered on the platform.

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MEDIA RELEASE – MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOREIGN WORKER EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION: Putrajaya, 22 August 2026

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MWN 14th Aug 2026: Allegations of a new syndicate in Malaysia’s labour market (Bangladesh Malaysia corridor) are extremely alarming, accountability demanded

22nd Aug 2026: Syndicate fears return as Malaysia selects 25 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies 

22nd August: Malaysia lists 25 Bangladeshi agencies, but recruitment process remains unclear 

23rd August 2026: 25-recruiting agency cartel in Bangladesh raises fears of skyrocketing Malaysian job costs 

23rd Aug 2026: Nepal Government to consult 25 recruitment agencies approved to send workers to Malaysia 

23rd Aug 2026: Malaysia accused of restricting Nepal’s foreign employment agencies under FWCMS

23rd Aug 2026: Malaysia job market being handed to syndicate, fascists: Jamaat 

23rd Aug 2026: Businesses Lock Two Manpower Companies Amid Syndicate Allegations 

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MWN Statement 22nd Aug 2026: No Syndicate in Malaysia’s Labour Market

MWN’s position is clear: we do not want any form of recruitment syndicate in Malaysia’s labour market.

Bangladeshi workers have already suffered from excessive recruitment costs, exploitation and abuse linked to syndicate-based recruitment. If workers are again forced to spend BDT 800,000–1,000,000 (RM 30,000–37,000) to migrate, it will be extremely difficult to reduce worker exploitation.

We call for:

• A transparent and accountable recruitment process

• No syndicates

• Reasonable and regulated recruitment costs

• No excessive financial burden on workers

• Agency selection based on genuine capacity, experience and reputation

• Strong protection of migrant workers’ rights

If migration costs do not come down, worker exploitation will not come down. And without ending syndicate practices, migration costs cannot be effectively reduced.

Malaysia’s labour market should not serve the business interests of a small group. It must serve the interests of Bangladeshi workers and the national economy.

MWN calls for a transparent, affordable and syndicate-free recruitment system.

#MWN #MigrantWelfareNetwork #NoSyndicate #MalaysiaLabourMarket #MigrantWorkers

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MWN 14th Aug 2026: Allegations of a new syndicate in Malaysia’s labour market (Bangladesh Malaysia corridor) are extremely alarming, accountability demanded 

Sourced from: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JUtejRLXj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Allegations of a new syndicate in Malaysia’s labour market (Bangladesh Malaysia corridor) are extremely alarming

If the allegations that 25 members of the syndicate and up to 5 million ringgit in donations per person are true, it is not just a matter of the labor sector – it is a terrible message for the lakhs of expatriate workers and their families.

MWN is demanding an immediate impartial and transparent investigation into the allegations. If the allegations are proven true, strict legal action will be taken against those involved.

Let’s put an end to the game of playing with the fate of expatriates.

Let Malaysia’s labor market be syndicate-free, transparent, and equal for all.

MWN is demanding the minister’s accountability and resignation if necessary for the interest of the labor sector 

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14th August 2026: Attempt to form a 25-member syndicate, donation per person is 17 crores

Rezaul Karim Lablu

Attempt to form a 25-member syndicate, donation per person is 17 crores

Sourced from Desh Pantar

The Malaysian labor market is opening after a long closure. If all goes well, the first batch of Bangladeshi workers will start going to Malaysia from the last week of this month, which has excited those involved in the immigration sector. However, due to the bitter experience of the past, there has been renewed concern about the clutches and activities of the syndicate.

During the previous Awami League government, a syndicate was formed with agencies owned by then ministers and MPs to send workers to the Malaysian labor market. The Malaysian labor market was closed from June 1, 2024 due to various irregularities. Now, after the change of government, efforts are underway to form a new 25-member syndicate consisting of agencies owned by BNP MPs and influential people. Some influential people in the party and those centered in the ministry are involved in this. 

In this regard, Mahdi Amin, advisor to the Prime Minister and spokesperson for his office, told Desh Pantar, “No opportunity has been given to form a syndicate to send workers to Malaysia. Workers will be sent at low cost on the basis of transparency. This is the government’s commitment.” 

BAIRA members allege that an attempt is being made to form a syndicate with 25 agencies close to influential people, including an agency owned by five BNP MPs and a leader, to send workers to Malaysia. However, it should be open to sending workers to Malaysia at a relatively low cost, so that anyone can send workers. They said that an attempt is being made to involve five BNP MPs and an influential leader in the syndicate. These include MP Shafiqur Rahman Kiran’s agency ‘Metco Enterprise’, Ali Azgar Lobby’s ‘Rupsha Enterprise’, Jahangir Biswas’s ‘Airway International’, Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik’s ‘Alam Sons Limited’, Khandaker Abu Asfaq’s ‘Khandaker Overseas’ and BNP leader Gafur Bhuiyan’s ‘Surma International’.

BAIRA members said that the ministry has canceled the license of Ruhul Amin Swapan, who was accused in the court for being involved in a syndicate during the previous Awami League government. But a group has started working to protect his license. A part of the government is involved in this. As part of this, a supplementary charge sheet has been given recently. His name has been omitted so that Ruhul Amin Swapan can export manpower when he starts hiring workers in Malaysia. There may be someone involved in the investigation or someone in the government involved in this. 

A person in a syndicate of 25 people, who asked not to be named, told Desh Panthwaran that a group is trying to form a syndicate of 25 people. Up to 5 million Malaysian ringgit (about 170 million taka) is being demanded for inclusion in the syndicate. The previous syndicate is trying to form a new syndicate by involving some agency owners, MPs, influential politicians and some people from the relevant circles. Some Awami League supporters are also involved in this anonymously. Datushree Amin Noor and Ruhul Amin Swapan, who are based in Malaysia, are working as the main craftsmen behind this. If a syndicate is formed here, a total of 4.25 billion taka will be laundered by including 25 licenses, 170 million taka each. There is a possibility of about 200,000 workers going through them. In that case, another 20 thousand crore taka will be laundered in this sector. Remittances will start coming in later. Before that, a large amount of money will be laundered from the country.

BNP MPs and leaders, however, denied the allegations and said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Malaysia in June. He met with the country’s Prime Minister. The Prime Minister wants to send workers to Malaysia through a transparent process. Those who do not want this are saying such things to dispute the government’s initiative. In fact, these allegations are not correct. There is no opportunity to form a new syndicate. If someone wants to do this, we will not be with them. Because we will send people from our own area. There is no opportunity to take more money from them.

BNP MP Shafiqur Rahman Kiran told Desh Panthapura, “Last year, the relevant ministry invited applications from agency owners. In that, 10 criteria were given. The government gave permission to those who were able to provide these. The ministry gave permission to 423 people, including me. There is no scope for syndication here. However, an investigation can be conducted to determine whether the people concerned were transparent while preparing this list. I also want transparency so that workers can go to Malaysia for less money. If there is no transparency, the cost will increase.”

It is known that during the previous interim government, a list of recruiting agencies was announced based on 10 specified criteria for sending workers to Malaysia. A notification was also given in the media regarding this. But at that time, 260 recruiting agencies that met seven of the 10 specified criteria and 163 that met six were listed. At that time, three to four criteria were relaxed and a total of 423 agencies were selected. However, initially, all agencies were asked to apply by meeting 10 criteria. Although the criteria were relaxed later, no notification was issued in this regard and other legitimate recruiting agencies were not given the opportunity to apply again. As a result, about 2,000 legitimate recruiting agencies have been deprived of equal opportunities. The current government has decided to exclude some of the syndicate-related organizations of the previous 101 agencies from the list in principle. In this regard, the agency owners have demanded a completely new list based on transparency, impartiality and equality.

How the Malaysian syndicate started: Since 2016, a specific group (syndicate) of only 10 recruiting agencies was formed by the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) with the participation of certain businessmen and influential people to send workers to Malaysia. Later, to revive the labor market that had been suspended at various times, it was increased to 25 in 2022 and later to 101 agencies. However, there are allegations that out of about 1500 legal agencies, only these specific agencies control the entire market. Behind this syndicate, there are allegations of collusion between Malaysia-based technology companies (such as IT system suppliers) and influential politicians and manpower exporters of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the government has cancelled the licenses of a total of 49 recruiting agencies, including those of four former Awami League MPs (MPs), who were involved in a ring formed by entering the Malaysian labor market and embezzling money. The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment issued a notification on Sunday, July 19, announcing the revocation of licenses after the court accepted the chargesheet against these agencies. The cancelled agencies include Orbitals Enterprises and Orbital International, two agencies owned by the wife and daughter of former Awami League Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. Ahmed International of Dhaka-20 MP Benazir Ahmed, Snigdha Overseas Limited of Feni-2 MP Nizam Uddin Hazari, and Five M International of Feni-3 MP Lieutenant General (retd.) Masud Uddin Chowdhury. Among them are Unique Eastern Private Limited owned by Noor Ali, a well-known businessman in the manpower sector, and Catharsis International owned by Ruhul Amin alias Swapan, a member of the Malaysian syndicate.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s advisor and spokesperson for his office, Mahdi Amin, announced the opening of the Malaysian labor market this month. At a press conference organized at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on July 30, he said, “The Malaysian labor market has been opened in a bilateral meeting. Based on the consensus of the two countries, opportunities have been created for workers from all sectors to go to Malaysia. If everything goes well, the first batch of Bangladeshi workers will start going to Malaysia from the last week of this month. At the same time, the previous syndicates and recruiting agencies involved in unethical activities will not be kept in the new list.”

He said, “None of those involved in fascist activities, those who did immoral activities, those who were part of syndicates, will be on the new list. Malaysian authorities will confirm the matter very soon.” Mahdi Amin said, “The target has been set for the first batch of Bangladeshi workers to go to Malaysia by the last week of August. In the first phase, Malaysia has been requested to send workers through the state-owned company Boesel. This will make it possible to reduce costs, increase efficiency and ensure a transparent process.

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MALAYSIA MARKET

Three visits, result ‘Zero’

Three high-level missions fail to deliver reopening as fears grow over return of agency syndicate

Anindyo Bhuiyan | Published: Sunday, August 16, 2026

Three visits, result ‘Zero’

Sourced from: https://aviationexpress.news/news/three-visits-result-zero

Three high-level visits, repeated assurances of syndicate-free recruitment and an August target for sending workers have failed so far to reopen Malaysia’s labour market, while concerns are mounting that a select group of recruiting agencies could gain privileged access to the lucrative market.

Since April, ministers and advisers have travelled to Malaysia for rounds of negotiations to restart recruitment. Yet, halfway through August, there is still no publicly announced operational mechanism for sending new workers.

Following the latest mission by Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin, the government identified the last week of August as a “realistic target” for sending workers.

On July 30, Mahdi Amin said Kuala Lumpur had agreed to resume recruitment of Bangladeshis across all sectors, with state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) initially receiving priority.

But with no final recruitment mechanism announced, meeting that target appears increasingly difficult.

Syndicate through the back door?

More contentious is what appears to be taking shape behind the negotiations.

The government has repeatedly promised that the reopened market will not be controlled by a syndicate. Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA)
sources, however, said discussions now involve 25 recruiting agencies drawn from a list of 423 submitted to Malaysia during the previous interim government.

A responsible ministry official told Aviation Express that although the agencies had not formally been assigned recruitment responsibilities, they had been asked by the minister to continue their “work”.

How the 25 agencies were identified remains unclear

Former BAIRA Joint Secretary General Mohammad Fakhrul Islam said industry stakeholders had not been informed about the selection criteria.

“We do not know how these 25 recruiting agencies were selected. The minister had promised to keep the Malaysian labour market free from syndicates, but we now fear this could instead create a powerful syndicate,” he told Aviation Express.

BAIRA sources also alleged that agencies owned by or associated with five BNP lawmakers and an influential party leader are among those seeking inclusion.

They named Metco Enterprise, Rupsa Enterprise, Air Way International, Alam Sons Limited, Khandaker Overseas and Surma International.

Aviation Express could not independently establish that the agencies have been formally selected or that alleged political connections influenced the process.

High stakes, familiar fears

Malaysia’s troubled recruitment history explains the anxiety.

For 2021-2024, the government-fixed migration cost was Tk 78,990 per worker.

The Anti-Corruption Commission, however, reportedly found workers were charged between Tk 500,000 and Tk 600,000.

The enormous gap underscores the financial stakes involved in controlling access to the Malaysian market and why restricting recruitment to a small number of agencies demands transparency.

Owners of several agencies reportedly under consideration have also alleged that two Malaysia-based individuals demanded 5 million Malaysian ringgit from each listed agency.

BOESL faces capacity test

The government has presented BOESL as a possible safeguard against excessive migration costs and middlemen. But questions remain over whether the state-owned recruiter has sufficient manpower and infrastructure to handle Malaysia-bound recruitment on a large scale.

BOESL Managing Director Mohammad Rashedul Haque said resources, rather than institutional capability, were the principal constraint.

“If the government provides us with the resources and facilities, we will be able to work on this because we have extensive experience and credibility in sending workers safely and at low cost,” he said.

The government now faces a critical policy choice. If BOESL lacks capacity, it can be strengthened. If private recruiters are needed, transparent eligibility criteria and open competition among qualified agencies could provide an alternative.

What would risk repeating the past is replacing one restricted network with another while describing the system as syndicate-free.

After three high-level missions, workers are still waiting. The test is no longer simply when Malaysia will reopen, but whether the government can ensure that reopening serves migrant workers rather than another privileged recruitment cartel.

Sourced from: https://aviationexpress.news/news/three-visits-result-zero

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BSS 29th July 2026: Bangladesh, Malaysia hold productive talks on labour market cooperation  

Jagonews 29th July 2026: Malaysia likely to decide on Bangladeshi recruitment in 1-2 days

PBTV 28th July 2026: The labor market in Malaysia will be open for Bangladeshi workers within the next two days, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Ramanan.

Malaysia 27th July 2026 Aviation Express : Expatriate Welfare Minister from Bangladesh to visit Malaysia tomorrow to discuss migrant labour market issues

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MWN statement 27th July 2026: the Bangaldeshi government’s silence on the labor market in Malaysia is alarming

For Immediate Release 27th July 2026: Why the Silence on Malaysia’s Labour Market? – MWN Statement

Recent media reports indicate that Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment is traveling to Malaysia for discussions on labour market issues. At the same time, reliable sources suggest that the relevant Malaysian minister may visit Bangladesh on 4 August. Yet, despite the significance of these developments, there has been no official briefing, public statement, or clear explanation from the government.

MWN asks: Why are these discussions being conducted in silence? What is being negotiated that migrant workers and the people of Bangladesh are not being told about?

The Malaysia labour market is not a private matter. It directly affects the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi workers and their families, as well as the national economy. Therefore, any negotiations, agreements, or policy decisions concerning this market must be transparent and accountable.

If there is positive progress regarding labour market access, worker recruitment, or the protection of migrant workers’ rights, why is the government not sharing this good news with the public? If important decisions are being discussed, why are migrant workers being kept in the dark?

MWN demands immediate clarification:

• What is the actual purpose of the Minister’s visit to Malaysia?
• What issues are being discussed during these meetings?
• What is on the agenda for the reported 4 August meeting between Bangladesh and Malaysia?
• What decisions are being considered regarding the future of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia?

Migrant workers are not just a source of remittances. They are a vital pillar of Bangladesh’s economy and deserve transparency, respect, and accountability from those making decisions that affect their future.

MWN calls on the Government of Bangladesh to immediately disclose the purpose, objectives, and expected outcomes of these engagements. The future of migrant workers must not be discussed behind closed doors without public accountability.

No secrecy. No speculation. No uncertainty.
The nation deserves answers. Migrant workers deserve transparency.

— Migrant Workers Network (MWN)

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17th July 2026: Malaysia migrant labour market reopening faces fresh syndicate shadow in Bangladesh (developments re: alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia)

Aviation Express 17th July 2026: Malaysia labour market reopening faces fresh syndicate shadow in Bangladesh. 

Fresh allegations of syndicate activity before the official reopening raise concerns that Bangladesh could repeat past recruitment failures

Anindyo Bhuiyan, Dhaka

Sourced from: https://epaper.aviationexpress.news/nogor-edition/2026-07-16/8

For thousands of aspiring Bangladeshi migrant workers, the reopening of Malaysia’s labour market was expected to mark a fresh beginning after years of suspension and controversy.

Instead, even before the two governments have completed the formal reopening process, familiar allegations are resurfacing, raising questions over whether the same syndicate that previously dominated worker recruitment is positioning itself to regain control.

Bangladesh and Malaysia governments have held a series of meetings at the prime ministerial and ministerial levels aimed at reopening the labour market through a transparent and accountable recruitment system.

The stated objective has been clear: prevent the corruption, excessive migration costs and worker exploitation that led to previous controversies.

Yet multiple sources involved in the migration sector claimed preparations are already underway to collect excessive payments from prospective workers under the guise of administrative procedures, approvals and documentation despite the recruitment process not having officially begun.

Minister’s “mistaken” remarks trigger fresh questions

The controversy deepened after Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury publicly indicated that Malaysia’s labour market had reopened before any formal announcement had been made by the two governments.

According to multiple ministry sources, the statement caught many officials by surprise. Several officials told Aviation Express that they had not been aware of any formal decision to reopen the market. Some officials further claimed the minister had been “misled” regarding the status of negotiations with Malaysia.

Although the ministry later issued a cautionary notice clarifying the situation, the minister has not formally withdrawn his earlier remarks.

Sector insiders argued that confusion created by the announcement provided an opportunity for recruitment networks to become active before any official recruitment framework had been approved.

Aviation Express has learned passports are already being collected from prospective worker in several rural areas despite absence of an officially announced recruitment process.

Minister Choudhury has firmly rejected allegations of syndi influence. “I will not allow syndicate in sending workers to Malaysia. As long as I am here, there will be no syndicate. If necessary, I will resign,” he said.

However, people working in overseas labour migration said the syndicate is far more experienced and powerful than the minister in this regard.

Official process still incomplete

Contrary to the impression created by public statements, ministry officials insist the labour market has not yet formally reopened.

Officials said a meeting of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Joint Technical Committee, provided for in the Joint Statement issued after the Prime Minister’s visit, must first be held before recruitment procedures can be finalised.

Bangladesh invited Malaysia to hold the meeting in April. Malaysia responded in May, saying a meeting date would be announced after obtaining Cabinet approval.

No date has yet been communicated.

Expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry’s Deputy Secretary Hedayetul Islam Mondal, the ministry’s focal point for the Malaysia labour market, said the recruitment flowchart would only be finalised after that meeting.

“Only then will the labour market reopen. Malaysia has not yet informed us when the meeting will be held. Therefore, nothing can be confirmed at this stage,” he said.

New system, old concerns

The Anti-Corruption Commission previously filed cases against 232 individuals associated with 100 recruiting agencies over allegations that workers were charged more than five times the officially approved recruitment fee between 2021 and 2024.

Malaysia has informed Bangladesh that all recruitment will be processed through its Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), operated by Bestinet Sdn. Bld.

Malaysia has also imposed 10 eligibility conditions for Bangladeshi recruiting agencies.

While the framework is intended to improve recruitment standards, stakeholders fear it may unintentionally favour agencies with longstanding commercial relationships in Malaysia.

Former Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Fakhrul Islam warned that the conditions could create fresh opportunities for syndicate influence unless they are reviewed.

Recruitment agencies, migration specialists and labour rights advocates argue that transparency must extend beyond digital platforms to include equal access for qualified agencies and independent oversight of employer selection.

High costs, continue to haunt workers

The Anti-Corruption Commission previously filed cases against 232 individuals associated with 100 recruiting agencies over allegations that workers were charged more than five times the officially approved recruitment fee between 2021 and 2024.

Former migrant worker Abdullah said workers routinely pay Tk 500,000 to Tk 600,C despite official fees being far lower. “Even after arriving in Malaysia, many do not receive the jobs they were promised and face various forms of harassment,” he said. 

British labour rights activist Andy Hall described syndicate-based recruitment as the principal source of corruption in Bangladesh-Malaysia migration corridor.

He told Aviation Express that the system primarily protects the financial interests of a limited group rather than migrant workers, adding that Bangladeshi workers pay among the world’s highest recruitment costs amrllnd remain vulnerable to forced labour.

Money, politics and influence

According to an official at the Ministry Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Empl ment, labour recruitment involves trans tions worth billions of taka, creating opp tunities for political financing.

Sources connected with the Anti-Corrupt Commission also confirmed that allegatic involving money laundering and hundi transactions linked to individuals associa with recruiting agencies are under investigation.

Meanwhile, sector insiders alleged that recruitment networks operate simultaneously in Bangladesh and Malaysia. While one group secures employer approvals and visas in Malaysia, another allegedly managed passport collection, medical examination, BMET clearance, visas, airline tickets and immigration processing in Bangladesh.

The introduction of Malaysia’s E-Quota system has not eliminated those concerns. Instead, observers feared influence may simply shift to new stages of the recruitment chain.

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Daily Star 15th July 2026: Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) demands labour reforms in Bangladesh Malaysia corridor

LIVE — MWN at the Prime Minister’s Office, Tejgaon, Dhaka. Submitting our open letter demanding a binding Bangladesh–Malaysia labour agreement and fair recruitment for migrant workers.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BrA9D1um6/?mibextid=wwXIfrMWN and network at PM’s office on 15th July 2026

Daily Star 15th July 2026: Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) demands labour reforms in Malaysia corridor

Open letter to PM vows peaceful protest if recruitment process not clarified by July 21

Star Online Report

Sourced from: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/news/migrant-welfare-network-demands-labour-reforms-malaysia-corridor-4224811

The Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) has written an open letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging immediate negotiation of a binding bilateral labour agreement with Malaysia and a public outline of the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers.https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14nPFKMGikQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The delegation included returnee migrant workers Niranjan, Abdullah and Hridoy of MWN; Nayan of Sammilito Sramik Foundation; and Nawshad of Awaj Foundation.

The move followed the prime minister’s visit to Malaysia on June 21-22 and an announcement by Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury on July 7 that the Malaysian labour market had reopened.

Malaysia had frozen recruitment since June 1, 2024 amid allegations of massive irregularities and exploitation under a syndicate of 101 agencies. Nearly 500,000 migrants who travelled between 2022 and 2024 reportedly paid Tk 4-6 lakh each, with many left jobless and undocumented.

In its statement, MWN said it had documented allegations of excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, unpaid wages, passport confiscation, inadequate housing, contract substitution and barriers to justice affecting Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia. It noted that an earlier open letter sent on June 17, 2026 had not received a concrete response.MWN 15th July 2025 statements and open letters

The network argued that existing protection mechanisms in both countries had failed to safeguard workers and their families.

The letter referenced statements from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration on exploitation, trafficking and forced labour involving Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The platform demanded urgent reforms, including immediate negotiation of a legally binding bilateral labour agreement to replace the current memorandum of understanding, establishment of a transparent and ethical recruitment system under which employers bear most legitimate recruitment costs, and immediate government action through a meeting with MWN representatives and affected workers.

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TBS 15th July 2026: Migrant group demands binding labour deal with Malaysia

15 July, 2026

Sourced from: https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/migrant-group-demands-binding-labour-deal-malaysia-1488851

The Migrant Welfare Network has urged the government to immediately negotiate a binding bilateral labour agreement with Malaysia and to publicly outline the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers if the Malaysian labour market reopens.

The network warned it would launch a peaceful protest programme if the government failed to provide a clear explanation of the recruitment process by Tuesday, 21 July 2026.

The demands were made in an open letter to the Prime Minister’s Office, submitted on behalf of migrant-worker members and co-endorsing organisations.

Addressed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the letter called for urgent reforms to the Bangladesh–Malaysia migration corridor and for the establishment of an ethical and transparent recruitment system.

The Migrant Welfare Network said it had documented allegations of excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, unpaid wages, passport confiscation, inadequate housing, contract substitution, and barriers to justice affecting Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The network said it had raised these issues with relevant authorities in both Bangladesh and Malaysia, and submitted petitions for affected workers. It noted that an earlier open letter sent to the prime minister on 17 June 2026 had not yet received a concrete response.

The network argued that existing protection mechanisms in Bangladesh and Malaysia have failed to adequately safeguard migrant workers and their families.

The letter referenced public statements from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation, and the International Organisation for Migration on alleged exploitation, trafficking, and forced labour involving Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

According to the network, the latest letter followed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Malaysia on 22 June and an announcement by the expatriates’ welfare minister on 6 July that the Malaysian labour market was expected to reopen.

The organisation said workers have a right to know which agencies and employers will participate, how selection will take place, and what safeguards will be implemented to prevent excessive fees and exploitation.

The letter outlined three key demands:

Immediate negotiation of a legally binding bilateral labour agreement between Bangladesh and Malaysia to replace the current memorandum of understanding, with enforceable standards for recruitment, wage protection, dispute resolution, and compliance;
Establishment of a transparent and ethical recruitment system under which employers, not workers, bear most legitimate recruitment costs; and
Immediate government action, including a meeting with Migrant Welfare Network representatives and affected workers.
The network said it remains committed to constructive dialogue and reforms to protect workers’ rights and dignity, while promoting lower-cost migration, remittance growth, skills development, and reintegration.

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PRESS STATEMENT — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 15 July 2026 

Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) and Supporters Submit Open Letter to Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Demanding Reform of Bangladesh Malaysia Labour Migration Corridor 

DHAKA, 15 July 2026 — The Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) today formally submitted an open letter, on behalf of its migrant worker members and co-endorsing organizations, to the Prime Minister’s Office of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. This letter calls for urgent reform of the Bangladesh Malaysia migration corridor, the negotiation of a binding bilateral labour agreement and the establishment of an ethical recruitment system.

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খোলা চিঠি: মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে
বাংলাদেশ থেকে মালয়েশিয়ায় পাড়ি জমানো লক্ষ লক্ষ শ্রমিক ভাই-বোনেরা আজও অতিরিক্ত নিয়োগ ফি, ঋণের বোঝা, পাসপোর্ট আটকে রাখা এবং প্রতারণার শিকার হচ্ছেন। বছরের পর বছর আবেদন-নিবেদন করেও কোনো কার্যকর সমাধান আসেনি।
আজ মাইগ্রেন্ট ওয়েলফেয়ার নেটওয়ার্ক (এমডব্লিউএন) মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে একটি খোলা চিঠি জমা দিয়েছে, যেখানে আমরা দাবি জানিয়েছি —
বাংলাদেশ-মালয়েশিয়ার মধ্যে একটি বাধ্যতামূলক দ্বিপাক্ষিক শ্রম চুক্তি
একটি বাস্তবসম্মত নৈতিক নিয়োগ ব্যবস্থা, যেখানে খরচের বড় অংশ বহন করবেন নিয়োগকর্তা, শ্রমিক নন
অভিবাসী শ্রমিকদের কথা সরাসরি শোনার জন্য একটি স্বচ্ছ যোগাযোগ ব্যবস্থা
১৫ জুলাই ২০২৬, তেজগাঁও, ঢাকা — আমরা এই চিঠি জমা দিয়েছি।
এই দাবিগুলো শুধু আমাদের নয়, প্রতিটি অভিবাসী শ্রমিক পরিবারের। আপনার একটি শেয়ার এই বার্তা আরও বহু মানুষের কাছে পৌঁছে দিতে পারে।
সবাই শেয়ার করে পাশে থাকুন।

অভিবাসীশ্রমিকেরঅধিকার #MWN #ন্যায্যনিয়োগ#বাংলাদেশমালয়েশিয়া

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আজকের কর্মসূচির বিষয়ে আমাদের আনুষ্ঠানিক প্রেস স্টেটমেন্ট প্রকাশ করা হয়েছে। বিস্তারিত জানতে সম্পূর্ণ বিবৃতিটি পড়ার অনুরোধ রইল।

OfficialStatement #PressRelease

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Bangladesh

Prothomalo 15th July 2026: Trade Union–Civil Society Action Alliance – Malaysia labour market: Rights activists call for ensuring transparency 

Prothom Alo English DeskDhaka

Published: 15 Jul 2026

Sourced from: https://en.prothomalo.com/amp/story/bangladesh/di8vrqlc8j

The Trade Union–Civil Society Action Alliance (TUCSAA) in a statement on Tuesday expresses deep concern over recent developments surrounding Bangladesh’s efforts to reopen the Malaysian labour market, says a press release. 

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

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

GENEVA (21 November 2025) – UN human rights experts* today expressed renewed concern about the continued exploitation, deception, and deepening debt bondage of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia.

“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.

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 immediate needs of those stranded.

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.

Read more

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.

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.

“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 morehttps://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.

See also: 23rd Oct 2023: Response from the Ministry of Human Resources regarding an article by Mr. Andy Hall.

See also: 19th Oct 2023: Malaysia facing huge excess of 1/4 million migrant laborers.

See also: 21st Sep 2023: Malaysian government has 15 source countries for foreign workers – Comments by Andy Hall. 

See also: FMT 20th Sep 2023: Rate of abused Bangladeshi workers’ entry into Malaysia worrying, says migrant rights activist Andy Hall.

—

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

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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

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)see article in full below)

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

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

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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

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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

See also 31st Oct 2025: Malaysian migrant Recruiters demand withdrawal of ‘irrational conditions’ for sending workers to Malaysia

See also 31st Oct 2025 Benarma – Malaysian Home minister: Bangladesh’s extradition request for Bestinet founder managed through govt, police channels

See also Nepali Times 30th Oct 2025: Who gets to recruit for Malaysia? Malaysia’s new 10-point recruiter selection criteria risks punishing the good migration actors

See also TBS 28th Oct 2025: Malaysia seeks ‘rationalisation’ of recruiting agencies based on 10 criteria

See also Dhaka Tribune 28th Oct 2025: Recruiting agencies warn of monopolization in Malaysia labour recruitment. They accused the ministry of creating a new recruitment syndicate – Baira leaders said 99% of agencies would be excluded

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 Focus Malaysia 25th June 2024: Migrant workers’ activist – Malaysia doesn’t deserve Tier 2 upgrade in 2024 US human trafficking report

See also 25th June 2024: Home Ministry welcomes country’s Tier 2 upgrade on Trafficking in Persons 2024 report

See also FMT 25th June 2024: Home ministry open to working with NGOs against human trafficking

See also Star 25th June 2024: Malaysia upgraded to Tier 2 in latest Trafficking in Persons report

SCMP 25th June 2024: Malaysia’s upgrade in US human trafficking index decried as ‘disappointing’ amid migrant worker woes

24th June 2024 Exclusive Analysis: CNA – Extension of Malaysia’s controversial migrant labour ecosystem (involving BESTINET) a blow to PM Anwar’s reform agenda 

See New Strait Times 24th June 2024: Malaysian Government Forms Committee to Review Terms of Bestinet’s 3 Year Extension

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet contract extended, confirms Saifuddin – ‘Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says the Cabinet decided in principle on the extension ‘several weeks ago’.

Malay Mail 24th June 2024: Home Minister – Bestinet keeps foreign worker system contract for three more years, but with stricter terms

Bernama News 24th June 2024: Committee set up to Peruse Terms and Conditions of BESTINET Contract

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet to surrender control of workers management system under new deal

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet should be phased out eventually, says ex-MP

Malaysianist 18th June 2024: Minting money from a migrant services monopoly (click to subscribe for full article)

9th June 2024 Daily Star – Labour Recruitment from Bangladesh to Malaysia: Syndicate wins, migrants suffer, country loses(excellent summary how bad triumphed, carnage resulted – Bangladesh and Malaysia MUST be downgraded to Tier 3 in the upcoming U.S. TIP report!)

Dhaka Tribune 11th June 2024: Deadline extended for Malaysia migration hurdle complaints

Business Standard 11th June: Unrest within Baira over Malaysian labour market, ruckus in AGM as committee members assaulted 

Observer 9th June 2024: Around 2,900 complaints lodged by deprived Malaysia-bound migrants

Malaysianist 6th June 2024: The fat cat ruling the Malaysian migrant services roost(allegations of systemic corruption involving Malaysia’s migrant worker management systems – click to subscribe)

Business Standard 5th June 2024: Govt to take action over failure in sending workers to Malaysia: PM Hasina

4th June 2024 Daily Star (Op Ed): Break the syndicates, not the dreams of Malaysia-bound workers

SCMP 4th June 2024 – In Malaysia, business and human rights must go hand in hand, UN rights chief says in KL press conference against backdrop of systemic migrant worker abuses

New Straits Times 4th June 2024: Human rights-centric practices essential for foreign investment, says UN

4th June 2024 Business Standard: NHRC orders probe into alleged embezzlement of Tk150cr from Malaysia-bound workers

4th June 2024 Business Standard: 47,809 Bangladeshis flew to Malaysia in May – highest since labour market reopened in 2022

Daily Sun 3rd June: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA – Recruiting agencies never made accountable(good historical summary)

Business Standard 4th June 2024:Dhaka-20, Feni-2 MPs deny allegations of involvement in embezzling money from Malaysia-bound workers

SCMP 3rd June 2024: ‘Nothing left for me’ as thousands of Bangladeshi workers lose everything in failed bid to work in Malaysia

Daily Star Editorial 3rd June 2024: Must our migrants pay the price every time?

Prothomalo 3rd June 2024 – Bangladesh Labour market: Hapless workers lose all vying to go to Malaysia

Daily Sun 3rd June 2024: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA: Recruiting agencies never made accountable

FMT 3rd June 2024: 17,000 Bangladeshi workers stranded, Dhaka pleads for time

Daily Star 3rd June 2024: 16,970 Bangladeshis failed to reach Malaysia for mismanagement, more destitution and modern slavery will result

Daily Star 3rd June 2024 – Bangladeshi Migrant Worker Exploitation and Malaysian Labour Market Alleged Criminal Syndicate: The agencies picked by KL to blame, Bangladesh tells UN OHCHR

Daily Star 2nd June 2024: Controversial recruitment system to stay 3 more years

Daily Star 2nd June – Jobs in Malaysia: Mismanagement left over 3k workers with no ticket to KL

Daily Star 1st June 2024: Must history repeat itself with the Malaysian labour market’s alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour

MALAYSIAKINI June 1st 2024: Controversial worker management system BESTINET gets new lease, sources say

1st June 2024 Kalerkantho: Malaysia’s dream ends in deprivation for Bangladeshi migrant workers of criminal syndicate

FMT 31st May 2024: Expect Bangladeshi workers to be stranded and at high risk of modern slavery following Malaysian migration management deadline rush, warns activist

SCMP 31st May 2024: Malaysians shocked by thousands of Bangladeshis crowding at airport to beat deadline for legal work, as UN and activists warn of increased modern slavery risks

CNA 31st May 2024: Over 30,000 workers set to miss deadline to enter Malaysia even as officials clear backlog at KL airport

Prothomalo 31 May 2024 – Bangladesh – Malaysia’s labour market: Repeated syndicates, repeated closure

Prothomalo 31st May 2024: Bangladesh – Thousands of people crowded Dhaka airport without flight tickets to go to Malaysia

31st May 2024 FMT: Govt reaffirms commitment to protect migrant workers’ rights to UN

31st May 2024: The closure of the labor market in Malaysia has shattered the dreams of 31,000 workers

Daily Star 31 May 2024 – Recruitment in Malaysia: Syndicate siphons over $1b out of Bangladesh

Daily Sun 31st May 2024: Biman sends 2,000 migrant workers to Malaysia

Business Standard 31st May 2024: Malaysia-bound workers scammed, stranded at Dhaka airport as deadline set to expire today

Daily Star 30th May 2024: Manpower syndicates beyond Dhaka-KL control

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

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

9th May 2024: Study: 96% of Bangladeshi workers going to Malaysia fall into recruitment debt– The study also said that 82% had two or more loans and 73% of workers spent at least 50% to 100% of their monthly salary to repay recruitment debts

4th May 2024: UN agencies concerned over Bangladeshi workers stranded in Malaysia – Joint Statement of ILO, IOM and UNODC on Alleged Criminal Syndicate Trafficking Bangladeshi Workers for Forced Labour in Malaysia

24th April 2024: Address plight of duped Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia in response to UN warning, govt told (more on the ongoing saga of an alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour in Malaysia)

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

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   

See also NST 9th Mar 2024: Sourcing migrant workers takes time, ‘not like buying cattle’, employer groups tell govt

NST 8th Mar 2024: Eliminate middlemen from migrant worker recruitment process, govt told

Star 8th Mar 2024: May 31 deadline for foreign workers recruitment under recalibration programme remains, says Saifuddin

Malay Mail 8th Mar 2024: Saifuddin Nasution: No more agents for Bangladeshi worker recruitment

6th Mar 2024: Malaysian government halts foreign worker entry into the country from 31st May 2024 (final calling visa/VDN approval issuance deadline 31st March 2024) as migrant worker management crisis worsens and victims of gross exploitation, unemployment and destitution rise significantly

6th March 2024: Business Times –Sudden change in foreign worker policy by Malaysian government leaves industry in limbo

6th Mar 2024 Edge: Foreign worker intake deadline changes will leave manufacturers in the lurch, says FMM

6th Mar 2024 FMT: Industry players shocked by foreign worker policy change, says FMM

Mar 5 2024: NCCIM urges govt to review unused foreign worker quota deadline

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 Updated News Summary 31st Aug 2026: Malaysian criminal syndicate trafficking migrant workers for forced labour in Malaysia through FWCMS strengthens in Bangladesh, Nepal as Malaysian migration corridor to re-open, UN agencies remain silent as Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) calls for urgent international response appeared first on Andy Hall.

Sourced from: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JUtejRLXj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Allegations of a new syndicate in Malaysia’s labour market (Bangladesh Malaysia corridor) are extremely alarming

If the allegations that 25 members of the syndicate and up to 5 million ringgit in donations per person are true, it is not just a matter of the labor sector – it is a terrible message for the lakhs of expatriate workers and their families.

MWN is demanding an immediate impartial and transparent investigation into the allegations. If the allegations are proven true, strict legal action will be taken against those involved.

Let’s put an end to the game of playing with the fate of expatriates.

Let Malaysia’s labor market be syndicate-free, transparent, and equal for all.

MWN is demanding the minister’s accountability and resignation if necessary for the interest of the labor sector

—

14th August 2026: Attempt to form a 25-member syndicate, donation per person is 17 crores

Rezaul Karim Lablu

Attempt to form a 25-member syndicate, donation per person is 17 crores

Sourced from Desh Pantar

The Malaysian labor market is opening after a long closure. If all goes well, the first batch of Bangladeshi workers will start going to Malaysia from the last week of this month, which has excited those involved in the immigration sector. However, due to the bitter experience of the past, there has been renewed concern about the clutches and activities of the syndicate.

During the previous Awami League government, a syndicate was formed with agencies owned by then ministers and MPs to send workers to the Malaysian labor market. The Malaysian labor market was closed from June 1, 2024 due to various irregularities. Now, after the change of government, efforts are underway to form a new 25-member syndicate consisting of agencies owned by BNP MPs and influential people. Some influential people in the party and those centered in the ministry are involved in this.

In this regard, Mahdi Amin, advisor to the Prime Minister and spokesperson for his office, told Desh Pantar, “No opportunity has been given to form a syndicate to send workers to Malaysia. Workers will be sent at low cost on the basis of transparency. This is the government’s commitment.” 

BAIRA members allege that an attempt is being made to form a syndicate with 25 agencies close to influential people, including an agency owned by five BNP MPs and a leader, to send workers to Malaysia. However, it should be open to sending workers to Malaysia at a relatively low cost, so that anyone can send workers. They said that an attempt is being made to involve five BNP MPs and an influential leader in the syndicate. These include MP Shafiqur Rahman Kiran’s agency ‘Metco Enterprise’, Ali Azgar Lobby’s ‘Rupsha Enterprise’, Jahangir Biswas’s ‘Airway International’, Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik’s ‘Alam Sons Limited’, Khandaker Abu Asfaq’s ‘Khandaker Overseas’ and BNP leader Gafur Bhuiyan’s ‘Surma International’.

BAIRA members said that the ministry has canceled the license of Ruhul Amin Swapan, who was accused in the court for being involved in a syndicate during the previous Awami League government. But a group has started working to protect his license. A part of the government is involved in this. As part of this, a supplementary charge sheet has been given recently. His name has been omitted so that Ruhul Amin Swapan can export manpower when he starts hiring workers in Malaysia. There may be someone involved in the investigation or someone in the government involved in this. 

A person in a syndicate of 25 people, who asked not to be named, told Desh Panthwaran that a group is trying to form a syndicate of 25 people. Up to 5 million Malaysian ringgit (about 170 million taka) is being demanded for inclusion in the syndicate. The previous syndicate is trying to form a new syndicate by involving some agency owners, MPs, influential politicians and some people from the relevant circles. Some Awami League supporters are also involved in this anonymously. Datushree Amin Noor and Ruhul Amin Swapan, who are based in Malaysia, are working as the main craftsmen behind this. If a syndicate is formed here, a total of 4.25 billion taka will be laundered by including 25 licenses, 170 million taka each. There is a possibility of about 200,000 workers going through them. In that case, another 20 thousand crore taka will be laundered in this sector. Remittances will start coming in later. Before that, a large amount of money will be laundered from the country.

BNP MPs and leaders, however, denied the allegations and said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Malaysia in June. He met with the country’s Prime Minister. The Prime Minister wants to send workers to Malaysia through a transparent process. Those who do not want this are saying such things to dispute the government’s initiative. In fact, these allegations are not correct. There is no opportunity to form a new syndicate. If someone wants to do this, we will not be with them. Because we will send people from our own area. There is no opportunity to take more money from them.

BNP MP Shafiqur Rahman Kiran told Desh Panthapura, “Last year, the relevant ministry invited applications from agency owners. In that, 10 criteria were given. The government gave permission to those who were able to provide these. The ministry gave permission to 423 people, including me. There is no scope for syndication here. However, an investigation can be conducted to determine whether the people concerned were transparent while preparing this list. I also want transparency so that workers can go to Malaysia for less money. If there is no transparency, the cost will increase.”

It is known that during the previous interim government, a list of recruiting agencies was announced based on 10 specified criteria for sending workers to Malaysia. A notification was also given in the media regarding this. But at that time, 260 recruiting agencies that met seven of the 10 specified criteria and 163 that met six were listed. At that time, three to four criteria were relaxed and a total of 423 agencies were selected. However, initially, all agencies were asked to apply by meeting 10 criteria. Although the criteria were relaxed later, no notification was issued in this regard and other legitimate recruiting agencies were not given the opportunity to apply again. As a result, about 2,000 legitimate recruiting agencies have been deprived of equal opportunities. The current government has decided to exclude some of the syndicate-related organizations of the previous 101 agencies from the list in principle. In this regard, the agency owners have demanded a completely new list based on transparency, impartiality and equality.

How the Malaysian syndicate started: Since 2016, a specific group (syndicate) of only 10 recruiting agencies was formed by the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) with the participation of certain businessmen and influential people to send workers to Malaysia. Later, to revive the labor market that had been suspended at various times, it was increased to 25 in 2022 and later to 101 agencies. However, there are allegations that out of about 1500 legal agencies, only these specific agencies control the entire market. Behind this syndicate, there are allegations of collusion between Malaysia-based technology companies (such as IT system suppliers) and influential politicians and manpower exporters of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the government has cancelled the licenses of a total of 49 recruiting agencies, including those of four former Awami League MPs (MPs), who were involved in a ring formed by entering the Malaysian labor market and embezzling money. The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment issued a notification on Sunday, July 19, announcing the revocation of licenses after the court accepted the chargesheet against these agencies. The cancelled agencies include Orbitals Enterprises and Orbital International, two agencies owned by the wife and daughter of former Awami League Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. Ahmed International of Dhaka-20 MP Benazir Ahmed, Snigdha Overseas Limited of Feni-2 MP Nizam Uddin Hazari, and Five M International of Feni-3 MP Lieutenant General (retd.) Masud Uddin Chowdhury. Among them are Unique Eastern Private Limited owned by Noor Ali, a well-known businessman in the manpower sector, and Catharsis International owned by Ruhul Amin alias Swapan, a member of the Malaysian syndicate.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s advisor and spokesperson for his office, Mahdi Amin, announced the opening of the Malaysian labor market this month. At a press conference organized at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on July 30, he said, “The Malaysian labor market has been opened in a bilateral meeting. Based on the consensus of the two countries, opportunities have been created for workers from all sectors to go to Malaysia. If everything goes well, the first batch of Bangladeshi workers will start going to Malaysia from the last week of this month. At the same time, the previous syndicates and recruiting agencies involved in unethical activities will not be kept in the new list.”

He said, “None of those involved in fascist activities, those who did immoral activities, those who were part of syndicates, will be on the new list. Malaysian authorities will confirm the matter very soon.” Mahdi Amin said, “The target has been set for the first batch of Bangladeshi workers to go to Malaysia by the last week of August. In the first phase, Malaysia has been requested to send workers through the state-owned company Boesel. This will make it possible to reduce costs, increase efficiency and ensure a transparent process.

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MALAYSIA MARKET

Three visits, result ‘Zero’

Three high-level missions fail to deliver reopening as fears grow over return of agency syndicate

Anindyo Bhuiyan | Published: Sunday, August 16, 2026

Three visits, result ‘Zero’

Sourced from: https://aviationexpress.news/news/three-visits-result-zero

Three high-level visits, repeated assurances of syndicate-free recruitment and an August target for sending workers have failed so far to reopen Malaysia’s labour market, while concerns are mounting that a select group of recruiting agencies could gain privileged access to the lucrative market.

Since April, ministers and advisers have travelled to Malaysia for rounds of negotiations to restart recruitment. Yet, halfway through August, there is still no publicly announced operational mechanism for sending new workers.

Following the latest mission by Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin, the government identified the last week of August as a “realistic target” for sending workers.

On July 30, Mahdi Amin said Kuala Lumpur had agreed to resume recruitment of Bangladeshis across all sectors, with state-owned Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) initially receiving priority.

But with no final recruitment mechanism announced, meeting that target appears increasingly difficult.

Syndicate through the back door?

More contentious is what appears to be taking shape behind the negotiations.

The government has repeatedly promised that the reopened market will not be controlled by a syndicate. Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA)
sources, however, said discussions now involve 25 recruiting agencies drawn from a list of 423 submitted to Malaysia during the previous interim government.

A responsible ministry official told Aviation Express that although the agencies had not formally been assigned recruitment responsibilities, they had been asked by the minister to continue their “work”.

How the 25 agencies were identified remains unclear

Former BAIRA Joint Secretary General Mohammad Fakhrul Islam said industry stakeholders had not been informed about the selection criteria.

“We do not know how these 25 recruiting agencies were selected. The minister had promised to keep the Malaysian labour market free from syndicates, but we now fear this could instead create a powerful syndicate,” he told Aviation Express.

BAIRA sources also alleged that agencies owned by or associated with five BNP lawmakers and an influential party leader are among those seeking inclusion.

They named Metco Enterprise, Rupsa Enterprise, Air Way International, Alam Sons Limited, Khandaker Overseas and Surma International.

Aviation Express could not independently establish that the agencies have been formally selected or that alleged political connections influenced the process.

High stakes, familiar fears

Malaysia’s troubled recruitment history explains the anxiety.

For 2021-2024, the government-fixed migration cost was Tk 78,990 per worker.

The Anti-Corruption Commission, however, reportedly found workers were charged between Tk 500,000 and Tk 600,000.

The enormous gap underscores the financial stakes involved in controlling access to the Malaysian market and why restricting recruitment to a small number of agencies demands transparency.

Owners of several agencies reportedly under consideration have also alleged that two Malaysia-based individuals demanded 5 million Malaysian ringgit from each listed agency.

BOESL faces capacity test

The government has presented BOESL as a possible safeguard against excessive migration costs and middlemen. But questions remain over whether the state-owned recruiter has sufficient manpower and infrastructure to handle Malaysia-bound recruitment on a large scale.

BOESL Managing Director Mohammad Rashedul Haque said resources, rather than institutional capability, were the principal constraint.

“If the government provides us with the resources and facilities, we will be able to work on this because we have extensive experience and credibility in sending workers safely and at low cost,” he said.

The government now faces a critical policy choice. If BOESL lacks capacity, it can be strengthened. If private recruiters are needed, transparent eligibility criteria and open competition among qualified agencies could provide an alternative.

What would risk repeating the past is replacing one restricted network with another while describing the system as syndicate-free.

After three high-level missions, workers are still waiting. The test is no longer simply when Malaysia will reopen, but whether the government can ensure that reopening serves migrant workers rather than another privileged recruitment cartel.

Sourced from: https://aviationexpress.news/news/three-visits-result-zero

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BSS 29th July 2026: Bangladesh, Malaysia hold productive talks on labour market cooperation  

Jagonews 29th July 2026: Malaysia likely to decide on Bangladeshi recruitment in 1-2 days

PBTV 28th July 2026: The labor market in Malaysia will be open for Bangladeshi workers within the next two days, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Ramanan.

Malaysia 27th July 2026 Aviation Express : Expatriate Welfare Minister from Bangladesh to visit Malaysia tomorrow to discuss migrant labour market issues

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MWN statement 27th July 2026: the Bangaldeshi government’s silence on the labor market in Malaysia is alarming

For Immediate Release 27th July 2026: Why the Silence on Malaysia’s Labour Market? – MWN Statement

Recent media reports indicate that Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment is traveling to Malaysia for discussions on labour market issues. At the same time, reliable sources suggest that the relevant Malaysian minister may visit Bangladesh on 4 August. Yet, despite the significance of these developments, there has been no official briefing, public statement, or clear explanation from the government.

MWN asks: Why are these discussions being conducted in silence? What is being negotiated that migrant workers and the people of Bangladesh are not being told about?

The Malaysia labour market is not a private matter. It directly affects the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi workers and their families, as well as the national economy. Therefore, any negotiations, agreements, or policy decisions concerning this market must be transparent and accountable.

If there is positive progress regarding labour market access, worker recruitment, or the protection of migrant workers’ rights, why is the government not sharing this good news with the public? If important decisions are being discussed, why are migrant workers being kept in the dark?

MWN demands immediate clarification:

• What is the actual purpose of the Minister’s visit to Malaysia?
• What issues are being discussed during these meetings?
• What is on the agenda for the reported 4 August meeting between Bangladesh and Malaysia?
• What decisions are being considered regarding the future of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia?

Migrant workers are not just a source of remittances. They are a vital pillar of Bangladesh’s economy and deserve transparency, respect, and accountability from those making decisions that affect their future.

MWN calls on the Government of Bangladesh to immediately disclose the purpose, objectives, and expected outcomes of these engagements. The future of migrant workers must not be discussed behind closed doors without public accountability.

No secrecy. No speculation. No uncertainty.
The nation deserves answers. Migrant workers deserve transparency.

— Migrant Workers Network (MWN)

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17th July 2026: Malaysia migrant labour market reopening faces fresh syndicate shadow in Bangladesh (developments re: alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia)

Aviation Express 17th July 2026: Malaysia labour market reopening faces fresh syndicate shadow in Bangladesh.

Fresh allegations of syndicate activity before the official reopening raise concerns that Bangladesh could repeat past recruitment failures

Anindyo Bhuiyan, Dhaka

Sourced from: https://epaper.aviationexpress.news/nogor-edition/2026-07-16/8

For thousands of aspiring Bangladeshi migrant workers, the reopening of Malaysia’s labour market was expected to mark a fresh beginning after years of suspension and controversy.

Instead, even before the two governments have completed the formal reopening process, familiar allegations are resurfacing, raising questions over whether the same syndicate that previously dominated worker recruitment is positioning itself to regain control.

Bangladesh and Malaysia governments have held a series of meetings at the prime ministerial and ministerial levels aimed at reopening the labour market through a transparent and accountable recruitment system.

The stated objective has been clear: prevent the corruption, excessive migration costs and worker exploitation that led to previous controversies.

Yet multiple sources involved in the migration sector claimed preparations are already underway to collect excessive payments from prospective workers under the guise of administrative procedures, approvals and documentation despite the recruitment process not having officially begun.

Minister’s “mistaken” remarks trigger fresh questions

The controversy deepened after Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury publicly indicated that Malaysia’s labour market had reopened before any formal announcement had been made by the two governments.

According to multiple ministry sources, the statement caught many officials by surprise. Several officials told Aviation Express that they had not been aware of any formal decision to reopen the market. Some officials further claimed the minister had been “misled” regarding the status of negotiations with Malaysia.

Although the ministry later issued a cautionary notice clarifying the situation, the minister has not formally withdrawn his earlier remarks.

Sector insiders argued that confusion created by the announcement provided an opportunity for recruitment networks to become active before any official recruitment framework had been approved.

Aviation Express has learned passports are already being collected from prospective worker in several rural areas despite absence of an officially announced recruitment process.

Minister Choudhury has firmly rejected allegations of syndi influence. “I will not allow syndicate in sending workers to Malaysia. As long as I am here, there will be no syndicate. If necessary, I will resign,” he said.

However, people working in overseas labour migration said the syndicate is far more experienced and powerful than the minister in this regard.

Official process still incomplete

Contrary to the impression created by public statements, ministry officials insist the labour market has not yet formally reopened.

Officials said a meeting of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Joint Technical Committee, provided for in the Joint Statement issued after the Prime Minister’s visit, must first be held before recruitment procedures can be finalised.

Bangladesh invited Malaysia to hold the meeting in April. Malaysia responded in May, saying a meeting date would be announced after obtaining Cabinet approval.

No date has yet been communicated.

Expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry’s Deputy Secretary Hedayetul Islam Mondal, the ministry’s focal point for the Malaysia labour market, said the recruitment flowchart would only be finalised after that meeting.

“Only then will the labour market reopen. Malaysia has not yet informed us when the meeting will be held. Therefore, nothing can be confirmed at this stage,” he said.

New system, old concerns

The Anti-Corruption Commission previously filed cases against 232 individuals associated with 100 recruiting agencies over allegations that workers were charged more than five times the officially approved recruitment fee between 2021 and 2024.

Malaysia has informed Bangladesh that all recruitment will be processed through its Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), operated by Bestinet Sdn. Bld.

Malaysia has also imposed 10 eligibility conditions for Bangladeshi recruiting agencies.

While the framework is intended to improve recruitment standards, stakeholders fear it may unintentionally favour agencies with longstanding commercial relationships in Malaysia.

Former Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Fakhrul Islam warned that the conditions could create fresh opportunities for syndicate influence unless they are reviewed.

Recruitment agencies, migration specialists and labour rights advocates argue that transparency must extend beyond digital platforms to include equal access for qualified agencies and independent oversight of employer selection.

High costs, continue to haunt workers

The Anti-Corruption Commission previously filed cases against 232 individuals associated with 100 recruiting agencies over allegations that workers were charged more than five times the officially approved recruitment fee between 2021 and 2024.

Former migrant worker Abdullah said workers routinely pay Tk 500,000 to Tk 600,C despite official fees being far lower. “Even after arriving in Malaysia, many do not receive the jobs they were promised and face various forms of harassment,” he said. 

British labour rights activist Andy Hall described syndicate-based recruitment as the principal source of corruption in Bangladesh-Malaysia migration corridor.

He told Aviation Express that the system primarily protects the financial interests of a limited group rather than migrant workers, adding that Bangladeshi workers pay among the world’s highest recruitment costs amrllnd remain vulnerable to forced labour.

Money, politics and influence

According to an official at the Ministry Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Empl ment, labour recruitment involves trans tions worth billions of taka, creating opp tunities for political financing.

Sources connected with the Anti-Corrupt Commission also confirmed that allegatic involving money laundering and hundi transactions linked to individuals associa with recruiting agencies are under investigation.

Meanwhile, sector insiders alleged that recruitment networks operate simultaneously in Bangladesh and Malaysia. While one group secures employer approvals and visas in Malaysia, another allegedly managed passport collection, medical examination, BMET clearance, visas, airline tickets and immigration processing in Bangladesh.

The introduction of Malaysia’s E-Quota system has not eliminated those concerns. Instead, observers feared influence may simply shift to new stages of the recruitment chain.

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Daily Star 15th July 2026: Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) demands labour reforms in Bangladesh Malaysia corridor

LIVE — MWN at the Prime Minister’s Office, Tejgaon, Dhaka. Submitting our open letter demanding a binding Bangladesh–Malaysia labour agreement and fair recruitment for migrant workers.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BrA9D1um6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Daily Star 15th July 2026: Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) demands labour reforms in Malaysia corridor

Open letter to PM vows peaceful protest if recruitment process not clarified by July 21

Star Online Report

Sourced from: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/news/migrant-welfare-network-demands-labour-reforms-malaysia-corridor-4224811

The Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) has written an open letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging immediate negotiation of a binding bilateral labour agreement with Malaysia and a public outline of the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers.https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14nPFKMGikQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

The delegation included returnee migrant workers Niranjan, Abdullah and Hridoy of MWN; Nayan of Sammilito Sramik Foundation; and Nawshad of Awaj Foundation.

The move followed the prime minister’s visit to Malaysia on June 21-22 and an announcement by Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury on July 7 that the Malaysian labour market had reopened.

Malaysia had frozen recruitment since June 1, 2024 amid allegations of massive irregularities and exploitation under a syndicate of 101 agencies. Nearly 500,000 migrants who travelled between 2022 and 2024 reportedly paid Tk 4-6 lakh each, with many left jobless and undocumented.

In its statement, MWN said it had documented allegations of excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, unpaid wages, passport confiscation, inadequate housing, contract substitution and barriers to justice affecting Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia. It noted that an earlier open letter sent on June 17, 2026 had not received a concrete response.MWN 15th July 2025 statements and open letters

The network argued that existing protection mechanisms in both countries had failed to safeguard workers and their families.

The letter referenced statements from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration on exploitation, trafficking and forced labour involving Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The platform demanded urgent reforms, including immediate negotiation of a legally binding bilateral labour agreement to replace the current memorandum of understanding, establishment of a transparent and ethical recruitment system under which employers bear most legitimate recruitment costs, and immediate government action through a meeting with MWN representatives and affected workers.

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TBS 15th July 2026: Migrant group demands binding labour deal with Malaysia

15 July, 2026

Sourced from: https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/migrant-group-demands-binding-labour-deal-malaysia-1488851

The Migrant Welfare Network has urged the government to immediately negotiate a binding bilateral labour agreement with Malaysia and to publicly outline the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers if the Malaysian labour market reopens.

The network warned it would launch a peaceful protest programme if the government failed to provide a clear explanation of the recruitment process by Tuesday, 21 July 2026.

The demands were made in an open letter to the Prime Minister’s Office, submitted on behalf of migrant-worker members and co-endorsing organisations.

Addressed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the letter called for urgent reforms to the Bangladesh–Malaysia migration corridor and for the establishment of an ethical and transparent recruitment system.

The Migrant Welfare Network said it had documented allegations of excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, unpaid wages, passport confiscation, inadequate housing, contract substitution, and barriers to justice affecting Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The network said it had raised these issues with relevant authorities in both Bangladesh and Malaysia, and submitted petitions for affected workers. It noted that an earlier open letter sent to the prime minister on 17 June 2026 had not yet received a concrete response.

The network argued that existing protection mechanisms in Bangladesh and Malaysia have failed to adequately safeguard migrant workers and their families.

The letter referenced public statements from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation, and the International Organisation for Migration on alleged exploitation, trafficking, and forced labour involving Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

According to the network, the latest letter followed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Malaysia on 22 June and an announcement by the expatriates’ welfare minister on 6 July that the Malaysian labour market was expected to reopen.

The organisation said workers have a right to know which agencies and employers will participate, how selection will take place, and what safeguards will be implemented to prevent excessive fees and exploitation.

The letter outlined three key demands:

Immediate negotiation of a legally binding bilateral labour agreement between Bangladesh and Malaysia to replace the current memorandum of understanding, with enforceable standards for recruitment, wage protection, dispute resolution, and compliance;
Establishment of a transparent and ethical recruitment system under which employers, not workers, bear most legitimate recruitment costs; and
Immediate government action, including a meeting with Migrant Welfare Network representatives and affected workers.
The network said it remains committed to constructive dialogue and reforms to protect workers’ rights and dignity, while promoting lower-cost migration, remittance growth, skills development, and reintegration.

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PRESS STATEMENT — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 15 July 2026 

Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) and Supporters Submit Open Letter to Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Demanding Reform of Bangladesh Malaysia Labour Migration Corridor 

DHAKA, 15 July 2026 — The Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) today formally submitted an open letter, on behalf of its migrant worker members and co-endorsing organizations, to the Prime Minister’s Office of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. This letter calls for urgent reform of the Bangladesh Malaysia migration corridor, the negotiation of a binding bilateral labour agreement and the establishment of an ethical recruitment system.

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খোলা চিঠি: মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে
বাংলাদেশ থেকে মালয়েশিয়ায় পাড়ি জমানো লক্ষ লক্ষ শ্রমিক ভাই-বোনেরা আজও অতিরিক্ত নিয়োগ ফি, ঋণের বোঝা, পাসপোর্ট আটকে রাখা এবং প্রতারণার শিকার হচ্ছেন। বছরের পর বছর আবেদন-নিবেদন করেও কোনো কার্যকর সমাধান আসেনি।
আজ মাইগ্রেন্ট ওয়েলফেয়ার নেটওয়ার্ক (এমডব্লিউএন) মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে একটি খোলা চিঠি জমা দিয়েছে, যেখানে আমরা দাবি জানিয়েছি —
বাংলাদেশ-মালয়েশিয়ার মধ্যে একটি বাধ্যতামূলক দ্বিপাক্ষিক শ্রম চুক্তি
একটি বাস্তবসম্মত নৈতিক নিয়োগ ব্যবস্থা, যেখানে খরচের বড় অংশ বহন করবেন নিয়োগকর্তা, শ্রমিক নন
অভিবাসী শ্রমিকদের কথা সরাসরি শোনার জন্য একটি স্বচ্ছ যোগাযোগ ব্যবস্থা
১৫ জুলাই ২০২৬, তেজগাঁও, ঢাকা — আমরা এই চিঠি জমা দিয়েছি।
এই দাবিগুলো শুধু আমাদের নয়, প্রতিটি অভিবাসী শ্রমিক পরিবারের। আপনার একটি শেয়ার এই বার্তা আরও বহু মানুষের কাছে পৌঁছে দিতে পারে।
সবাই শেয়ার করে পাশে থাকুন।

অভিবাসীশ্রমিকেরঅধিকার #MWN #ন্যায্যনিয়োগ#বাংলাদেশমালয়েশিয়া

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আজকের কর্মসূচির বিষয়ে আমাদের আনুষ্ঠানিক প্রেস স্টেটমেন্ট প্রকাশ করা হয়েছে। বিস্তারিত জানতে সম্পূর্ণ বিবৃতিটি পড়ার অনুরোধ রইল।

OfficialStatement #PressRelease

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Bangladesh

Prothomalo 15th July 2026: Trade Union–Civil Society Action Alliance – Malaysia labour market: Rights activists call for ensuring transparency 

Prothom Alo English DeskDhaka

Published: 15 Jul 2026

Sourced from: https://en.prothomalo.com/amp/story/bangladesh/di8vrqlc8j

The Trade Union–Civil Society Action Alliance (TUCSAA) in a statement on Tuesday expresses deep concern over recent developments surrounding Bangladesh’s efforts to reopen the Malaysian labour market, says a press release. 

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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

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

GENEVA (21 November 2025) – UN human rights experts* today expressed renewed concern about the continued exploitation, deception, and deepening debt bondage of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia.

“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.

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 immediate needs of those stranded.

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.

Read more

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.

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.

“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 morehttps://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.

See also: 23rd Oct 2023: Response from the Ministry of Human Resources regarding an article by Mr. Andy Hall.

See also: 19th Oct 2023: Malaysia facing huge excess of 1/4 million migrant laborers.

See also: 21st Sep 2023: Malaysian government has 15 source countries for foreign workers – Comments by Andy Hall. 

See also: FMT 20th Sep 2023: Rate of abused Bangladeshi workers’ entry into Malaysia worrying, says migrant rights activist Andy Hall.

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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

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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

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)see article in full below)

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

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

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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

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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

See also 31st Oct 2025: Malaysian migrant Recruiters demand withdrawal of ‘irrational conditions’ for sending workers to Malaysia

See also 31st Oct 2025 Benarma – Malaysian Home minister: Bangladesh’s extradition request for Bestinet founder managed through govt, police channels

See also Nepali Times 30th Oct 2025: Who gets to recruit for Malaysia? Malaysia’s new 10-point recruiter selection criteria risks punishing the good migration actors

See also TBS 28th Oct 2025: Malaysia seeks ‘rationalisation’ of recruiting agencies based on 10 criteria

See also Dhaka Tribune 28th Oct 2025: Recruiting agencies warn of monopolization in Malaysia labour recruitment. They accused the ministry of creating a new recruitment syndicate – Baira leaders said 99% of agencies would be excluded

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 Focus Malaysia 25th June 2024: Migrant workers’ activist – Malaysia doesn’t deserve Tier 2 upgrade in 2024 US human trafficking report

See also 25th June 2024: Home Ministry welcomes country’s Tier 2 upgrade on Trafficking in Persons 2024 report

See also FMT 25th June 2024: Home ministry open to working with NGOs against human trafficking

See also Star 25th June 2024: Malaysia upgraded to Tier 2 in latest Trafficking in Persons report

SCMP 25th June 2024: Malaysia’s upgrade in US human trafficking index decried as ‘disappointing’ amid migrant worker woes

24th June 2024 Exclusive Analysis: CNA – Extension of Malaysia’s controversial migrant labour ecosystem (involving BESTINET) a blow to PM Anwar’s reform agenda 

See New Strait Times 24th June 2024: Malaysian Government Forms Committee to Review Terms of Bestinet’s 3 Year Extension

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet contract extended, confirms Saifuddin – ‘Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says the Cabinet decided in principle on the extension ‘several weeks ago’.

Malay Mail 24th June 2024: Home Minister – Bestinet keeps foreign worker system contract for three more years, but with stricter terms

Bernama News 24th June 2024: Committee set up to Peruse Terms and Conditions of BESTINET Contract

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet to surrender control of workers management system under new deal

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet should be phased out eventually, says ex-MP

Malaysianist 18th June 2024: Minting money from a migrant services monopoly (click to subscribe for full article)

9th June 2024 Daily Star – Labour Recruitment from Bangladesh to Malaysia: Syndicate wins, migrants suffer, country loses(excellent summary how bad triumphed, carnage resulted – Bangladesh and Malaysia MUST be downgraded to Tier 3 in the upcoming U.S. TIP report!)

Dhaka Tribune 11th June 2024: Deadline extended for Malaysia migration hurdle complaints

Business Standard 11th June: Unrest within Baira over Malaysian labour market, ruckus in AGM as committee members assaulted 

Observer 9th June 2024: Around 2,900 complaints lodged by deprived Malaysia-bound migrants

Malaysianist 6th June 2024: The fat cat ruling the Malaysian migrant services roost(allegations of systemic corruption involving Malaysia’s migrant worker management systems – click to subscribe)

Business Standard 5th June 2024: Govt to take action over failure in sending workers to Malaysia: PM Hasina

4th June 2024 Daily Star (Op Ed): Break the syndicates, not the dreams of Malaysia-bound workers

SCMP 4th June 2024 – In Malaysia, business and human rights must go hand in hand, UN rights chief says in KL press conference against backdrop of systemic migrant worker abuses

New Straits Times 4th June 2024: Human rights-centric practices essential for foreign investment, says UN

4th June 2024 Business Standard: NHRC orders probe into alleged embezzlement of Tk150cr from Malaysia-bound workers

4th June 2024 Business Standard: 47,809 Bangladeshis flew to Malaysia in May – highest since labour market reopened in 2022

Daily Sun 3rd June: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA – Recruiting agencies never made accountable(good historical summary)

Business Standard 4th June 2024:Dhaka-20, Feni-2 MPs deny allegations of involvement in embezzling money from Malaysia-bound workers

SCMP 3rd June 2024: ‘Nothing left for me’ as thousands of Bangladeshi workers lose everything in failed bid to work in Malaysia

Daily Star Editorial 3rd June 2024: Must our migrants pay the price every time?

Prothomalo 3rd June 2024 – Bangladesh Labour market: Hapless workers lose all vying to go to Malaysia

Daily Sun 3rd June 2024: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA: Recruiting agencies never made accountable

FMT 3rd June 2024: 17,000 Bangladeshi workers stranded, Dhaka pleads for time

Daily Star 3rd June 2024: 16,970 Bangladeshis failed to reach Malaysia for mismanagement, more destitution and modern slavery will result

Daily Star 3rd June 2024 – Bangladeshi Migrant Worker Exploitation and Malaysian Labour Market Alleged Criminal Syndicate: The agencies picked by KL to blame, Bangladesh tells UN OHCHR

Daily Star 2nd June 2024: Controversial recruitment system to stay 3 more years

Daily Star 2nd June – Jobs in Malaysia: Mismanagement left over 3k workers with no ticket to KL

Daily Star 1st June 2024: Must history repeat itself with the Malaysian labour market’s alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour

MALAYSIAKINI June 1st 2024: Controversial worker management system BESTINET gets new lease, sources say

1st June 2024 Kalerkantho: Malaysia’s dream ends in deprivation for Bangladeshi migrant workers of criminal syndicate

FMT 31st May 2024: Expect Bangladeshi workers to be stranded and at high risk of modern slavery following Malaysian migration management deadline rush, warns activist

SCMP 31st May 2024: Malaysians shocked by thousands of Bangladeshis crowding at airport to beat deadline for legal work, as UN and activists warn of increased modern slavery risks

CNA 31st May 2024: Over 30,000 workers set to miss deadline to enter Malaysia even as officials clear backlog at KL airport

Prothomalo 31 May 2024 – Bangladesh – Malaysia’s labour market: Repeated syndicates, repeated closure

Prothomalo 31st May 2024: Bangladesh – Thousands of people crowded Dhaka airport without flight tickets to go to Malaysia

31st May 2024 FMT: Govt reaffirms commitment to protect migrant workers’ rights to UN

31st May 2024: The closure of the labor market in Malaysia has shattered the dreams of 31,000 workers

Daily Star 31 May 2024 – Recruitment in Malaysia: Syndicate siphons over $1b out of Bangladesh

Daily Sun 31st May 2024: Biman sends 2,000 migrant workers to Malaysia

Business Standard 31st May 2024: Malaysia-bound workers scammed, stranded at Dhaka airport as deadline set to expire today

Daily Star 30th May 2024: Manpower syndicates beyond Dhaka-KL control

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

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

9th May 2024: Study: 96% of Bangladeshi workers going to Malaysia fall into recruitment debt– The study also said that 82% had two or more loans and 73% of workers spent at least 50% to 100% of their monthly salary to repay recruitment debts

4th May 2024: UN agencies concerned over Bangladeshi workers stranded in Malaysia – Joint Statement of ILO, IOM and UNODC on Alleged Criminal Syndicate Trafficking Bangladeshi Workers for Forced Labour in Malaysia

24th April 2024: Address plight of duped Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia in response to UN warning, govt told (more on the ongoing saga of an alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour in Malaysia)

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

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   

See also NST 9th Mar 2024: Sourcing migrant workers takes time, ‘not like buying cattle’, employer groups tell govt

NST 8th Mar 2024: Eliminate middlemen from migrant worker recruitment process, govt told

Star 8th Mar 2024: May 31 deadline for foreign workers recruitment under recalibration programme remains, says Saifuddin

Malay Mail 8th Mar 2024: Saifuddin Nasution: No more agents for Bangladeshi worker recruitment

6th Mar 2024: Malaysian government halts foreign worker entry into the country from 31st May 2024 (final calling visa/VDN approval issuance deadline 31st March 2024) as migrant worker management crisis worsens and victims of gross exploitation, unemployment and destitution rise significantly

6th March 2024: Business Times –Sudden change in foreign worker policy by Malaysian government leaves industry in limbo

6th Mar 2024 Edge: Foreign worker intake deadline changes will leave manufacturers in the lurch, says FMM

6th Mar 2024 FMT: Industry players shocked by foreign worker policy change, says FMM

Mar 5 2024: NCCIM urges govt to review unused foreign worker quota deadline

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 MWN 14th Aug 2026: Allegations of a new syndicate in Malaysia’s labour market (Bangladesh Malaysia corridor) are extremely alarming, accountability demanded appeared first on Andy Hall.

Aviation Express 17th July 2026: Malaysia labour market reopening faces fresh syndicate shadow in Bangladesh

Fresh allegations of syndicate activity before the official reopening raise concerns that Bangladesh could repeat past recruitment failures

Anindyo Bhuiyan, Dhaka

Sourced from: https://epaper.aviationexpress.news/nogor-edition/2026-07-16/8

For thousands of aspiring Bangladeshi migrant workers, the reopening of Malaysia’s labour market was expected to mark a fresh beginning after years of suspension and controversy.

Instead, even before the two governments have completed the formal reopening process, familiar allegations are resurfacing, raising questions over whether the same syndicate that previously dominated worker recruitment is positioning itself to regain control.

Bangladesh and Malaysia governments have held a series of meetings at the prime ministerial and ministerial levels aimed at reopening the labour market through a transparent and accountable recruitment system.

The stated objective has been clear: prevent the corruption, excessive migration costs and worker exploitation that led to previous controversies.

Yet multiple sources involved in the migration sector claimed preparations are already underway to collect excessive payments from prospective workers under the guise of administrative procedures, approvals and documentation despite the recruitment process not having officially begun.

Minister’s “mistaken” remarks trigger fresh questions

The controversy deepened after Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury publicly indicated that Malaysia’s labour market had reopened before any formal announcement had been made by the two governments.

According to multiple ministry sources, the statement caught many officials by surprise. Several officials told Aviation Express that they had not been aware of any formal decision to reopen the market. Some officials further claimed the minister had been “misled” regarding the status of negotiations with Malaysia.

Although the ministry later issued a cautionary notice clarifying the situation, the minister has not formally withdrawn his earlier remarks.

Sector insiders argued that confusion created by the announcement provided an opportunity for recruitment networks to become active before any official recruitment framework had been approved.

Aviation Express has learned passports are already being collected from prospective worker in several rural areas despite absence of an officially announced recruitment process.

Minister Choudhury has firmly rejected allegations of syndi influence. “I will not allow syndicate in sending workers to Malaysia. As long as I am here, there will be no syndicate. If necessary, I will resign,” he said.

However, people working in overseas labour migration said the syndicate is far more experienced and powerful than the minister in this regard.

Official process still incomplete

Contrary to the impression created by public statements, ministry officials insist the labour market has not yet formally reopened.

Officials said a meeting of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Joint Technical Committee, provided for in the Joint Statement issued after the Prime Minister’s visit, must first be held before recruitment procedures can be finalised.

Bangladesh invited Malaysia to hold the meeting in April. Malaysia responded in May, saying a meeting date would be announced after obtaining Cabinet approval.

No date has yet been communicated.

Expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry’s Deputy Secretary Hedayetul Islam Mondal, the ministry’s focal point for the Malaysia labour market, said the recruitment flowchart would only be finalised after that meeting.

“Only then will the labour market reopen. Malaysia has not yet informed us when the meeting will be held. Therefore, nothing can be confirmed at this stage,” he said.

New system, old concerns

The Anti-Corruption Commission previously filed cases against 232 individuals associated with 100 recruiting agencies over allegations that workers were charged more than five times the officially approved recruitment fee between 2021 and 2024.

Malaysia has informed Bangladesh that all recruitment will be processed through its Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), operated by Bestinet Sdn. Bld.

Malaysia has also imposed 10 eligibility conditions for Bangladeshi recruiting agencies.

While the framework is intended to improve recruitment standards, stakeholders fear it may unintentionally favour agencies with longstanding commercial relationships in Malaysia.

Former Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Fakhrul Islam warned that the conditions could create fresh opportunities for syndicate influence unless they are reviewed.

Recruitment agencies, migration specialists and labour rights advocates argue that transparency must extend beyond digital platforms to include equal access for qualified agencies and independent oversight of employer selection.

High costs, continue to haunt workers

The Anti-Corruption Commission previously filed cases against 232 individuals associated with 100 recruiting agencies over allegations that workers were charged more than five times the officially approved recruitment fee between 2021 and 2024.

Former migrant worker Abdullah said workers routinely pay Tk 500,000 to Tk 600,C despite official fees being far lower. “Even after arriving in Malaysia, many do not receive the jobs they were promised and face various forms of harassment,” he said.

British labour rights activist Andy Hall described syndicate-based recruitment as the principal source of corruption in Bangladesh-Malaysia migration corridor.

He told Aviation Express that the system primarily protects the financial interests of a limited group rather than migrant workers, adding that Bangladeshi workers pay among the world’s highest recruitment costs amrllnd remain vulnerable to forced labour.

Money, politics and influence

According to an official at the Ministry Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Empl ment, labour recruitment involves trans tions worth billions of taka, creating opp tunities for political financing.

Sources connected with the Anti-Corrupt Commission also confirmed that allegatic involving money laundering and hundi transactions linked to individuals associa with recruiting agencies are under investigation.

Meanwhile, sector insiders alleged that recruitment networks operate simultaneously in Bangladesh and Malaysia. While one group secures employer approvals and visas in Malaysia, another allegedly managed passport collection, medical examination, BMET clearance, visas, airline tickets and immigration processing in Bangladesh.

The introduction of Malaysia’s E-Quota system has not eliminated those concerns. Instead, observers feared influence may simply shift to new stages of the recruitment chain.

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Daily Star 15th July 2026: Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) demands labour reforms in Bangladesh Malaysia corridor

LIVE — MWN at the Prime Minister’s Office, Tejgaon, Dhaka. Submitting our open letter demanding a binding Bangladesh–Malaysia labour agreement and fair recruitment for migrant workers.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BrA9D1um6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Daily Star 15th July 2026: Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) demands labour reforms in Malaysia corridor

Open letter to PM vows peaceful protest if recruitment process not clarified by July 21

Star Online Report

Sourced from: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/news/migrant-welfare-network-demands-labour-reforms-malaysia-corridor-4224811

The Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) has written an open letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging immediate negotiation of a binding bilateral labour agreement with Malaysia and a public outline of the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers.https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14nPFKMGikQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

The delegation included returnee migrant workers Niranjan, Abdullah and Hridoy of MWN; Nayan of Sammilito Sramik Foundation; and Nawshad of Awaj Foundation.

The move followed the prime minister’s visit to Malaysia on June 21-22 and an announcement by Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury on July 7 that the Malaysian labour market had reopened.

Malaysia had frozen recruitment since June 1, 2024 amid allegations of massive irregularities and exploitation under a syndicate of 101 agencies. Nearly 500,000 migrants who travelled between 2022 and 2024 reportedly paid Tk 4-6 lakh each, with many left jobless and undocumented.

In its statement, MWN said it had documented allegations of excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, unpaid wages, passport confiscation, inadequate housing, contract substitution and barriers to justice affecting Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia. It noted that an earlier open letter sent on June 17, 2026 had not received a concrete response.MWN 15th July 2025 statements and open letters

The network argued that existing protection mechanisms in both countries had failed to safeguard workers and their families.

The letter referenced statements from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration on exploitation, trafficking and forced labour involving Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The platform demanded urgent reforms, including immediate negotiation of a legally binding bilateral labour agreement to replace the current memorandum of understanding, establishment of a transparent and ethical recruitment system under which employers bear most legitimate recruitment costs, and immediate government action through a meeting with MWN representatives and affected workers.

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TBS 15th July 2026: Migrant group demands binding labour deal with Malaysia

15 July, 2026

Sourced from: https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/migrant-group-demands-binding-labour-deal-malaysia-1488851

The Migrant Welfare Network has urged the government to immediately negotiate a binding bilateral labour agreement with Malaysia and to publicly outline the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers if the Malaysian labour market reopens.

The network warned it would launch a peaceful protest programme if the government failed to provide a clear explanation of the recruitment process by Tuesday, 21 July 2026.

The demands were made in an open letter to the Prime Minister’s Office, submitted on behalf of migrant-worker members and co-endorsing organisations.

Addressed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the letter called for urgent reforms to the Bangladesh–Malaysia migration corridor and for the establishment of an ethical and transparent recruitment system.

The Migrant Welfare Network said it had documented allegations of excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, unpaid wages, passport confiscation, inadequate housing, contract substitution, and barriers to justice affecting Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The network said it had raised these issues with relevant authorities in both Bangladesh and Malaysia, and submitted petitions for affected workers. It noted that an earlier open letter sent to the prime minister on 17 June 2026 had not yet received a concrete response.

The network argued that existing protection mechanisms in Bangladesh and Malaysia have failed to adequately safeguard migrant workers and their families.

The letter referenced public statements from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation, and the International Organisation for Migration on alleged exploitation, trafficking, and forced labour involving Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

According to the network, the latest letter followed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Malaysia on 22 June and an announcement by the expatriates’ welfare minister on 6 July that the Malaysian labour market was expected to reopen.

The organisation said workers have a right to know which agencies and employers will participate, how selection will take place, and what safeguards will be implemented to prevent excessive fees and exploitation.

The letter outlined three key demands:

Immediate negotiation of a legally binding bilateral labour agreement between Bangladesh and Malaysia to replace the current memorandum of understanding, with enforceable standards for recruitment, wage protection, dispute resolution, and compliance;
Establishment of a transparent and ethical recruitment system under which employers, not workers, bear most legitimate recruitment costs; and
Immediate government action, including a meeting with Migrant Welfare Network representatives and affected workers.
The network said it remains committed to constructive dialogue and reforms to protect workers’ rights and dignity, while promoting lower-cost migration, remittance growth, skills development, and reintegration.

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PRESS STATEMENT — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 15 July 2026 

Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) and Supporters Submit Open Letter to Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Demanding Reform of Bangladesh Malaysia Labour Migration Corridor 

DHAKA, 15 July 2026 — The Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) today formally submitted an open letter, on behalf of its migrant worker members and co-endorsing organizations, to the Prime Minister’s Office of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. This letter calls for urgent reform of the Bangladesh Malaysia migration corridor, the negotiation of a binding bilateral labour agreement and the establishment of an ethical recruitment system.

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খোলা চিঠি: মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে
বাংলাদেশ থেকে মালয়েশিয়ায় পাড়ি জমানো লক্ষ লক্ষ শ্রমিক ভাই-বোনেরা আজও অতিরিক্ত নিয়োগ ফি, ঋণের বোঝা, পাসপোর্ট আটকে রাখা এবং প্রতারণার শিকার হচ্ছেন। বছরের পর বছর আবেদন-নিবেদন করেও কোনো কার্যকর সমাধান আসেনি।
আজ মাইগ্রেন্ট ওয়েলফেয়ার নেটওয়ার্ক (এমডব্লিউএন) মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে একটি খোলা চিঠি জমা দিয়েছে, যেখানে আমরা দাবি জানিয়েছি —
বাংলাদেশ-মালয়েশিয়ার মধ্যে একটি বাধ্যতামূলক দ্বিপাক্ষিক শ্রম চুক্তি
একটি বাস্তবসম্মত নৈতিক নিয়োগ ব্যবস্থা, যেখানে খরচের বড় অংশ বহন করবেন নিয়োগকর্তা, শ্রমিক নন
অভিবাসী শ্রমিকদের কথা সরাসরি শোনার জন্য একটি স্বচ্ছ যোগাযোগ ব্যবস্থা
১৫ জুলাই ২০২৬, তেজগাঁও, ঢাকা — আমরা এই চিঠি জমা দিয়েছি।
এই দাবিগুলো শুধু আমাদের নয়, প্রতিটি অভিবাসী শ্রমিক পরিবারের। আপনার একটি শেয়ার এই বার্তা আরও বহু মানুষের কাছে পৌঁছে দিতে পারে।
সবাই শেয়ার করে পাশে থাকুন।

অভিবাসীশ্রমিকেরঅধিকার #MWN #ন্যায্যনিয়োগ#বাংলাদেশমালয়েশিয়া

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আজকের কর্মসূচির বিষয়ে আমাদের আনুষ্ঠানিক প্রেস স্টেটমেন্ট প্রকাশ করা হয়েছে। বিস্তারিত জানতে সম্পূর্ণ বিবৃতিটি পড়ার অনুরোধ রইল।

OfficialStatement #PressRelease

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Bangladesh

Prothomalo 15th July 2026: Trade Union–Civil Society Action Alliance – Malaysia labour market: Rights activists call for ensuring transparency 

Prothom Alo English DeskDhaka

Published: 15 Jul 2026

Sourced from: https://en.prothomalo.com/amp/story/bangladesh/di8vrqlc8j

The Trade Union–Civil Society Action Alliance (TUCSAA) in a statement on Tuesday expresses deep concern over recent developments surrounding Bangladesh’s efforts to reopen the Malaysian labour market, says a press release. 

While restoring employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers is an urgent national priority, recent media reports raise important questions about whether the governance failures that led to the previous market closure have truly been addressed.

Malaysia remains one of the most important overseas employment destinations for Bangladeshi workers.

Yet the previous recruitment system was plagued by allegations of syndication, limited market access, excessive migration costs, and unequal opportunities for recruiting agencies. 

The suspension of recruitment left thousands of aspiring migrants in uncertainty and exposed serious weaknesses in Bangladesh’s migration governance. 

Many Bangladeshi workers also faced unpaid wages, passport confiscation, contract substitution, poor accommodation, and limited access to justice. 

These experiences highlight the urgent need for a recruitment system that protects workers not only before departure but throughout the migration cycle.

The recent diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and Malaysia presents an important opportunity to rebuild this labour migration partnership. 

However, reopening the market should not simply mean resuming worker deployment. It must mark a shift towards a recruitment system that is transparent, accountable, and trusted by workers.

TUCSAA urges the Government of Bangladesh to move beyond broad Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and pursue clear, enforceable bilateral labour agreements with defined commitments on recruitment procedures, workers’ rights, wages, occupational safety, grievance redress, dispute resolution, and joint monitoring.

Such agreements are essential to protecting migrant workers throughout the migration cycle.

Reopening the Malaysian labour market must also be accompanied by broader reforms. 

Stronger oversight, transparent recruitment, better coordination among government institutions, modernised skills development, and meaningful participation of trade unions, civil society organisations, and migrant representatives are essential to building a fair and sustainable migration system.

The decisions taken today will shape more than Bangladesh’s relationship with Malaysia.

They will influence the country’s credibility as a labour-sending nation, affect future negotiations with other destination countries, and determine whether migrant workers continue to bear high migration costs and exploitation or benefit from a system that protects their rights and dignity.

Bangladesh now has an opportunity to show that it has learned from past experience.

TUCSAA calls on the Government to ensure that the reopening of the Malaysian labour market is guided by transparency, accountability, stakeholder participation, and the best interests of migrant workers.

The success of this process should not be measured only by the number of workers deployed, but by the fairness, protection, and dignity they receive.

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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

By Andy Hall / 15/05/2026 / 63 minutes of reading

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

GENEVA (21 November 2025) – UN human rights experts* today expressed renewed concern about the continued exploitation, deception, and deepening debt bondage of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia.

“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.

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 immediate needs of those stranded.

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

—

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.

——

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)

—-

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.

Read more

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.

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.

“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 morehttps://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.

—

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

—

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.

See also: 23rd Oct 2023: Response from the Ministry of Human Resources regarding an article by Mr. Andy Hall.

See also: 19th Oct 2023: Malaysia facing huge excess of 1/4 million migrant laborers.

See also: 21st Sep 2023: Malaysian government has 15 source countries for foreign workers – Comments by Andy Hall. 

See also: FMT 20th Sep 2023: Rate of abused Bangladeshi workers’ entry into Malaysia worrying, says migrant rights activist Andy Hall.

—

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

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)see article in full below)

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

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

—

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

See also 31st Oct 2025: Malaysian migrant Recruiters demand withdrawal of ‘irrational conditions’ for sending workers to Malaysia

See also 31st Oct 2025 Benarma – Malaysian Home minister: Bangladesh’s extradition request for Bestinet founder managed through govt, police channels

See also Nepali Times 30th Oct 2025: Who gets to recruit for Malaysia? Malaysia’s new 10-point recruiter selection criteria risks punishing the good migration actors

See also TBS 28th Oct 2025: Malaysia seeks ‘rationalisation’ of recruiting agencies based on 10 criteria

See also Dhaka Tribune 28th Oct 2025: Recruiting agencies warn of monopolization in Malaysia labour recruitment. They accused the ministry of creating a new recruitment syndicate – Baira leaders said 99% of agencies would be excluded

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 Focus Malaysia 25th June 2024: Migrant workers’ activist – Malaysia doesn’t deserve Tier 2 upgrade in 2024 US human trafficking report

See also 25th June 2024: Home Ministry welcomes country’s Tier 2 upgrade on Trafficking in Persons 2024 report

See also FMT 25th June 2024: Home ministry open to working with NGOs against human trafficking

See also Star 25th June 2024: Malaysia upgraded to Tier 2 in latest Trafficking in Persons report

SCMP 25th June 2024: Malaysia’s upgrade in US human trafficking index decried as ‘disappointing’ amid migrant worker woes

24th June 2024 Exclusive Analysis: CNA – Extension of Malaysia’s controversial migrant labour ecosystem (involving BESTINET) a blow to PM Anwar’s reform agenda 

See New Strait Times 24th June 2024: Malaysian Government Forms Committee to Review Terms of Bestinet’s 3 Year Extension

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet contract extended, confirms Saifuddin – ‘Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says the Cabinet decided in principle on the extension ‘several weeks ago’.

Malay Mail 24th June 2024: Home Minister – Bestinet keeps foreign worker system contract for three more years, but with stricter terms

Bernama News 24th June 2024: Committee set up to Peruse Terms and Conditions of BESTINET Contract

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet to surrender control of workers management system under new deal

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet should be phased out eventually, says ex-MP

Malaysianist 18th June 2024: Minting money from a migrant services monopoly (click to subscribe for full article)

9th June 2024 Daily Star – Labour Recruitment from Bangladesh to Malaysia: Syndicate wins, migrants suffer, country loses(excellent summary how bad triumphed, carnage resulted – Bangladesh and Malaysia MUST be downgraded to Tier 3 in the upcoming U.S. TIP report!)

Dhaka Tribune 11th June 2024: Deadline extended for Malaysia migration hurdle complaints

Business Standard 11th June: Unrest within Baira over Malaysian labour market, ruckus in AGM as committee members assaulted 

Observer 9th June 2024: Around 2,900 complaints lodged by deprived Malaysia-bound migrants

Malaysianist 6th June 2024: The fat cat ruling the Malaysian migrant services roost(allegations of systemic corruption involving Malaysia’s migrant worker management systems – click to subscribe)

Business Standard 5th June 2024: Govt to take action over failure in sending workers to Malaysia: PM Hasina

4th June 2024 Daily Star (Op Ed): Break the syndicates, not the dreams of Malaysia-bound workers

SCMP 4th June 2024 – In Malaysia, business and human rights must go hand in hand, UN rights chief says in KL press conference against backdrop of systemic migrant worker abuses

New Straits Times 4th June 2024: Human rights-centric practices essential for foreign investment, says UN

4th June 2024 Business Standard: NHRC orders probe into alleged embezzlement of Tk150cr from Malaysia-bound workers

4th June 2024 Business Standard: 47,809 Bangladeshis flew to Malaysia in May – highest since labour market reopened in 2022

Daily Sun 3rd June: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA – Recruiting agencies never made accountable(good historical summary)

Business Standard 4th June 2024:Dhaka-20, Feni-2 MPs deny allegations of involvement in embezzling money from Malaysia-bound workers

SCMP 3rd June 2024: ‘Nothing left for me’ as thousands of Bangladeshi workers lose everything in failed bid to work in Malaysia

Daily Star Editorial 3rd June 2024: Must our migrants pay the price every time?

Prothomalo 3rd June 2024 – Bangladesh Labour market: Hapless workers lose all vying to go to Malaysia

Daily Sun 3rd June 2024: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA: Recruiting agencies never made accountable

FMT 3rd June 2024: 17,000 Bangladeshi workers stranded, Dhaka pleads for time

Daily Star 3rd June 2024: 16,970 Bangladeshis failed to reach Malaysia for mismanagement, more destitution and modern slavery will result

Daily Star 3rd June 2024 – Bangladeshi Migrant Worker Exploitation and Malaysian Labour Market Alleged Criminal Syndicate: The agencies picked by KL to blame, Bangladesh tells UN OHCHR

Daily Star 2nd June 2024: Controversial recruitment system to stay 3 more years

Daily Star 2nd June – Jobs in Malaysia: Mismanagement left over 3k workers with no ticket to KL

Daily Star 1st June 2024: Must history repeat itself with the Malaysian labour market’s alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour

MALAYSIAKINI June 1st 2024: Controversial worker management system BESTINET gets new lease, sources say

1st June 2024 Kalerkantho: Malaysia’s dream ends in deprivation for Bangladeshi migrant workers of criminal syndicate

FMT 31st May 2024: Expect Bangladeshi workers to be stranded and at high risk of modern slavery following Malaysian migration management deadline rush, warns activist

SCMP 31st May 2024: Malaysians shocked by thousands of Bangladeshis crowding at airport to beat deadline for legal work, as UN and activists warn of increased modern slavery risks

CNA 31st May 2024: Over 30,000 workers set to miss deadline to enter Malaysia even as officials clear backlog at KL airport

Prothomalo 31 May 2024 – Bangladesh – Malaysia’s labour market: Repeated syndicates, repeated closure

Prothomalo 31st May 2024: Bangladesh – Thousands of people crowded Dhaka airport without flight tickets to go to Malaysia

31st May 2024 FMT: Govt reaffirms commitment to protect migrant workers’ rights to UN

31st May 2024: The closure of the labor market in Malaysia has shattered the dreams of 31,000 workers

Daily Star 31 May 2024 – Recruitment in Malaysia: Syndicate siphons over $1b out of Bangladesh

Daily Sun 31st May 2024: Biman sends 2,000 migrant workers to Malaysia

Business Standard 31st May 2024: Malaysia-bound workers scammed, stranded at Dhaka airport as deadline set to expire today

Daily Star 30th May 2024: Manpower syndicates beyond Dhaka-KL control

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

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

9th May 2024: Study: 96% of Bangladeshi workers going to Malaysia fall into recruitment debt– The study also said that 82% had two or more loans and 73% of workers spent at least 50% to 100% of their monthly salary to repay recruitment debts

4th May 2024: UN agencies concerned over Bangladeshi workers stranded in Malaysia – Joint Statement of ILO, IOM and UNODC on Alleged Criminal Syndicate Trafficking Bangladeshi Workers for Forced Labour in Malaysia

24th April 2024: Address plight of duped Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia in response to UN warning, govt told (more on the ongoing saga of an alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour in Malaysia)

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

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   

See also NST 9th Mar 2024: Sourcing migrant workers takes time, ‘not like buying cattle’, employer groups tell govt

NST 8th Mar 2024: Eliminate middlemen from migrant worker recruitment process, govt told

Star 8th Mar 2024: May 31 deadline for foreign workers recruitment under recalibration programme remains, says Saifuddin

Malay Mail 8th Mar 2024: Saifuddin Nasution: No more agents for Bangladeshi worker recruitment

6th Mar 2024: Malaysian government halts foreign worker entry into the country from 31st May 2024 (final calling visa/VDN approval issuance deadline 31st March 2024) as migrant worker management crisis worsens and victims of gross exploitation, unemployment and destitution rise significantly

6th March 2024: Business Times –Sudden change in foreign worker policy by Malaysian government leaves industry in limbo

6th Mar 2024 Edge: Foreign worker intake deadline changes will leave manufacturers in the lurch, says FMM

6th Mar 2024 FMT: Industry players shocked by foreign worker policy change, says FMM

Mar 5 2024: NCCIM urges govt to review unused foreign worker quota deadline

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 17th July 2026: Malaysia migrant labour market reopening faces fresh syndicate shadow in Bangladesh (developments re: alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi workers for forced labour in Malaysia) appeared first on Andy Hall.

Daily Star 15th July 2026: Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) demands labour reforms in Malaysia corridor

Open letter to PM vows peaceful protest if recruitment process not clarified by July 21

Star Online Report

Sourced from: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/news/migrant-welfare-network-demands-labour-reforms-malaysia-corridor-4224811

The Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) has written an open letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging immediate negotiation of a binding bilateral labour agreement with Malaysia and a public outline of the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers.

The delegation included returnee migrant workers Niranjan, Abdullah and Hridoy of MWN; Nayan of Sammilito Sramik Foundation; and Nawshad of Awaj Foundation.

The move followed the prime minister’s visit to Malaysia on June 21-22 and an announcement by Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury on July 7 that the Malaysian labour market had reopened.

Malaysia had frozen recruitment since June 1, 2024 amid allegations of massive irregularities and exploitation under a syndicate of 101 agencies. Nearly 500,000 migrants who travelled between 2022 and 2024 reportedly paid Tk 4-6 lakh each, with many left jobless and undocumented.

In its statement, MWN said it had documented allegations of excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, unpaid wages, passport confiscation, inadequate housing, contract substitution and barriers to justice affecting Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia. It noted that an earlier open letter sent on June 17, 2026 had not received a concrete response.

The network argued that existing protection mechanisms in both countries had failed to safeguard workers and their families.

The letter referenced statements from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration on exploitation, trafficking and forced labour involving Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The platform demanded urgent reforms, including immediate negotiation of a legally binding bilateral labour agreement to replace the current memorandum of understanding, establishment of a transparent and ethical recruitment system under which employers bear most legitimate recruitment costs, and immediate government action through a meeting with MWN representatives and affected workers.

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TBS 15th July 2026: Migrant group demands binding labour deal with Malaysia

15 July, 2026

Sourced from: https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/migrant-group-demands-binding-labour-deal-malaysia-1488851

The Migrant Welfare Network has urged the government to immediately negotiate a binding bilateral labour agreement with Malaysia and to publicly outline the recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers if the Malaysian labour market reopens.

The network warned it would launch a peaceful protest programme if the government failed to provide a clear explanation of the recruitment process by Tuesday, 21 July 2026.

The demands were made in an open letter to the Prime Minister’s Office, submitted on behalf of migrant-worker members and co-endorsing organisations.

Addressed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the letter called for urgent reforms to the Bangladesh–Malaysia migration corridor and for the establishment of an ethical and transparent recruitment system.

The Migrant Welfare Network said it had documented allegations of excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, unpaid wages, passport confiscation, inadequate housing, contract substitution, and barriers to justice affecting Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The network said it had raised these issues with relevant authorities in both Bangladesh and Malaysia, and submitted petitions for affected workers. It noted that an earlier open letter sent to the prime minister on 17 June 2026 had not yet received a concrete response.

The network argued that existing protection mechanisms in Bangladesh and Malaysia have failed to adequately safeguard migrant workers and their families.

The letter referenced public statements from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation, and the International Organisation for Migration on alleged exploitation, trafficking, and forced labour involving Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

According to the network, the latest letter followed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Malaysia on 22 June and an announcement by the expatriates’ welfare minister on 6 July that the Malaysian labour market was expected to reopen.

The organisation said workers have a right to know which agencies and employers will participate, how selection will take place, and what safeguards will be implemented to prevent excessive fees and exploitation.

The letter outlined three key demands:

Immediate negotiation of a legally binding bilateral labour agreement between Bangladesh and Malaysia to replace the current memorandum of understanding, with enforceable standards for recruitment, wage protection, dispute resolution, and compliance;
Establishment of a transparent and ethical recruitment system under which employers, not workers, bear most legitimate recruitment costs; and
Immediate government action, including a meeting with Migrant Welfare Network representatives and affected workers.
The network said it remains committed to constructive dialogue and reforms to protect workers’ rights and dignity, while promoting lower-cost migration, remittance growth, skills development, and reintegration.

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PRESS STATEMENT — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 15 July 2026

Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) and Supporters Submit Open Letter to Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Demanding Reform of Bangladesh Malaysia Labour Migration Corridor

DHAKA, 15 July 2026 — The Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) today formally submitted an open letter, on behalf of its migrant worker members and co-endorsing organizations, to the Prime Minister’s Office of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. This letter calls for urgent reform of the Bangladesh Malaysia migration corridor, the negotiation of a binding bilateral labour agreement and the establishment of an ethical recruitment system.

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খোলা চিঠি: মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে
বাংলাদেশ থেকে মালয়েশিয়ায় পাড়ি জমানো লক্ষ লক্ষ শ্রমিক ভাই-বোনেরা আজও অতিরিক্ত নিয়োগ ফি, ঋণের বোঝা, পাসপোর্ট আটকে রাখা এবং প্রতারণার শিকার হচ্ছেন। বছরের পর বছর আবেদন-নিবেদন করেও কোনো কার্যকর সমাধান আসেনি।
আজ মাইগ্রেন্ট ওয়েলফেয়ার নেটওয়ার্ক (এমডব্লিউএন) মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে একটি খোলা চিঠি জমা দিয়েছে, যেখানে আমরা দাবি জানিয়েছি —
বাংলাদেশ-মালয়েশিয়ার মধ্যে একটি বাধ্যতামূলক দ্বিপাক্ষিক শ্রম চুক্তি
একটি বাস্তবসম্মত নৈতিক নিয়োগ ব্যবস্থা, যেখানে খরচের বড় অংশ বহন করবেন নিয়োগকর্তা, শ্রমিক নন
অভিবাসী শ্রমিকদের কথা সরাসরি শোনার জন্য একটি স্বচ্ছ যোগাযোগ ব্যবস্থা
১৫ জুলাই ২০২৬, তেজগাঁও, ঢাকা — আমরা এই চিঠি জমা দিয়েছি।
এই দাবিগুলো শুধু আমাদের নয়, প্রতিটি অভিবাসী শ্রমিক পরিবারের। আপনার একটি শেয়ার এই বার্তা আরও বহু মানুষের কাছে পৌঁছে দিতে পারে।
সবাই শেয়ার করে পাশে থাকুন।

অভিবাসীশ্রমিকেরঅধিকার #MWN #ন্যায্যনিয়োগ #বাংলাদেশমালয়েশিয়া

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আজকের কর্মসূচির বিষয়ে আমাদের আনুষ্ঠানিক প্রেস স্টেটমেন্ট প্রকাশ করা হয়েছে। বিস্তারিত জানতে সম্পূর্ণ বিবৃতিটি পড়ার অনুরোধ রইল।

OfficialStatement #PressRelease

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Bangladesh

Prothomalo 15th July 2026: Trade Union–Civil Society Action Alliance – Malaysia labour market: Rights activists call for ensuring transparency 

Prothom Alo English DeskDhaka

Published: 15 Jul 2026

Sourced from: https://en.prothomalo.com/amp/story/bangladesh/di8vrqlc8j

The Trade Union–Civil Society Action Alliance (TUCSAA) in a statement on Tuesday expresses deep concern over recent developments surrounding Bangladesh’s efforts to reopen the Malaysian labour market, says a press release. 

While restoring employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers is an urgent national priority, recent media reports raise important questions about whether the governance failures that led to the previous market closure have truly been addressed.

Malaysia remains one of the most important overseas employment destinations for Bangladeshi workers.

Yet the previous recruitment system was plagued by allegations of syndication, limited market access, excessive migration costs, and unequal opportunities for recruiting agencies. 

The suspension of recruitment left thousands of aspiring migrants in uncertainty and exposed serious weaknesses in Bangladesh’s migration governance. 

Many Bangladeshi workers also faced unpaid wages, passport confiscation, contract substitution, poor accommodation, and limited access to justice. 

These experiences highlight the urgent need for a recruitment system that protects workers not only before departure but throughout the migration cycle.

The recent diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and Malaysia presents an important opportunity to rebuild this labour migration partnership. 

However, reopening the market should not simply mean resuming worker deployment. It must mark a shift towards a recruitment system that is transparent, accountable, and trusted by workers.

TUCSAA urges the Government of Bangladesh to move beyond broad Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and pursue clear, enforceable bilateral labour agreements with defined commitments on recruitment procedures, workers’ rights, wages, occupational safety, grievance redress, dispute resolution, and joint monitoring.

Such agreements are essential to protecting migrant workers throughout the migration cycle.

Reopening the Malaysian labour market must also be accompanied by broader reforms. 

Stronger oversight, transparent recruitment, better coordination among government institutions, modernised skills development, and meaningful participation of trade unions, civil society organisations, and migrant representatives are essential to building a fair and sustainable migration system.

The decisions taken today will shape more than Bangladesh’s relationship with Malaysia.

They will influence the country’s credibility as a labour-sending nation, affect future negotiations with other destination countries, and determine whether migrant workers continue to bear high migration costs and exploitation or benefit from a system that protects their rights and dignity.

Bangladesh now has an opportunity to show that it has learned from past experience.

TUCSAA calls on the Government to ensure that the reopening of the Malaysian labour market is guided by transparency, accountability, stakeholder participation, and the best interests of migrant workers.

The success of this process should not be measured only by the number of workers deployed, but by the fairness, protection, and dignity they receive.

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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

By Andy Hall / 15/05/2026 / 63 minutes of reading

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

GENEVA (21 November 2025) – UN human rights experts* today expressed renewed concern about the continued exploitation, deception, and deepening debt bondage of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia.

“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.

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 immediate needs of those stranded.

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.

——

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.

Read more

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.

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.

“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 morehttps://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.

See also: 23rd Oct 2023: Response from the Ministry of Human Resources regarding an article by Mr. Andy Hall.

See also: 19th Oct 2023: Malaysia facing huge excess of 1/4 million migrant laborers.

See also: 21st Sep 2023: Malaysian government has 15 source countries for foreign workers – Comments by Andy Hall. 

See also: FMT 20th Sep 2023: Rate of abused Bangladeshi workers’ entry into Malaysia worrying, says migrant rights activist Andy Hall.

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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

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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

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)see article in full below)

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

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

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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

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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

See also 31st Oct 2025: Malaysian migrant Recruiters demand withdrawal of ‘irrational conditions’ for sending workers to Malaysia

See also 31st Oct 2025 Benarma – Malaysian Home minister: Bangladesh’s extradition request for Bestinet founder managed through govt, police channels

See also Nepali Times 30th Oct 2025: Who gets to recruit for Malaysia? Malaysia’s new 10-point recruiter selection criteria risks punishing the good migration actors

See also TBS 28th Oct 2025: Malaysia seeks ‘rationalisation’ of recruiting agencies based on 10 criteria

See also Dhaka Tribune 28th Oct 2025: Recruiting agencies warn of monopolization in Malaysia labour recruitment. They accused the ministry of creating a new recruitment syndicate – Baira leaders said 99% of agencies would be excluded

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 Focus Malaysia 25th June 2024: Migrant workers’ activist – Malaysia doesn’t deserve Tier 2 upgrade in 2024 US human trafficking report

See also 25th June 2024: Home Ministry welcomes country’s Tier 2 upgrade on Trafficking in Persons 2024 report

See also FMT 25th June 2024: Home ministry open to working with NGOs against human trafficking

See also Star 25th June 2024: Malaysia upgraded to Tier 2 in latest Trafficking in Persons report

SCMP 25th June 2024: Malaysia’s upgrade in US human trafficking index decried as ‘disappointing’ amid migrant worker woes

24th June 2024 Exclusive Analysis: CNA – Extension of Malaysia’s controversial migrant labour ecosystem (involving BESTINET) a blow to PM Anwar’s reform agenda 

See New Strait Times 24th June 2024: Malaysian Government Forms Committee to Review Terms of Bestinet’s 3 Year Extension

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet contract extended, confirms Saifuddin – ‘Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says the Cabinet decided in principle on the extension ‘several weeks ago’.

Malay Mail 24th June 2024: Home Minister – Bestinet keeps foreign worker system contract for three more years, but with stricter terms

Bernama News 24th June 2024: Committee set up to Peruse Terms and Conditions of BESTINET Contract

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet to surrender control of workers management system under new deal

FMT 24th June 2024: Bestinet should be phased out eventually, says ex-MP

Malaysianist 18th June 2024: Minting money from a migrant services monopoly (click to subscribe for full article)

9th June 2024 Daily Star – Labour Recruitment from Bangladesh to Malaysia: Syndicate wins, migrants suffer, country loses(excellent summary how bad triumphed, carnage resulted – Bangladesh and Malaysia MUST be downgraded to Tier 3 in the upcoming U.S. TIP report!)

Dhaka Tribune 11th June 2024: Deadline extended for Malaysia migration hurdle complaints

Business Standard 11th June: Unrest within Baira over Malaysian labour market, ruckus in AGM as committee members assaulted 

Observer 9th June 2024: Around 2,900 complaints lodged by deprived Malaysia-bound migrants

Malaysianist 6th June 2024: The fat cat ruling the Malaysian migrant services roost(allegations of systemic corruption involving Malaysia’s migrant worker management systems – click to subscribe)

Business Standard 5th June 2024: Govt to take action over failure in sending workers to Malaysia: PM Hasina

4th June 2024 Daily Star (Op Ed): Break the syndicates, not the dreams of Malaysia-bound workers

SCMP 4th June 2024 – In Malaysia, business and human rights must go hand in hand, UN rights chief says in KL press conference against backdrop of systemic migrant worker abuses

New Straits Times 4th June 2024: Human rights-centric practices essential for foreign investment, says UN

4th June 2024 Business Standard: NHRC orders probe into alleged embezzlement of Tk150cr from Malaysia-bound workers

4th June 2024 Business Standard: 47,809 Bangladeshis flew to Malaysia in May – highest since labour market reopened in 2022

Daily Sun 3rd June: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA – Recruiting agencies never made accountable(good historical summary)

Business Standard 4th June 2024:Dhaka-20, Feni-2 MPs deny allegations of involvement in embezzling money from Malaysia-bound workers

SCMP 3rd June 2024: ‘Nothing left for me’ as thousands of Bangladeshi workers lose everything in failed bid to work in Malaysia

Daily Star Editorial 3rd June 2024: Must our migrants pay the price every time?

Prothomalo 3rd June 2024 – Bangladesh Labour market: Hapless workers lose all vying to go to Malaysia

Daily Sun 3rd June 2024: IRREGULARITIES IN MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA: Recruiting agencies never made accountable

FMT 3rd June 2024: 17,000 Bangladeshi workers stranded, Dhaka pleads for time

Daily Star 3rd June 2024: 16,970 Bangladeshis failed to reach Malaysia for mismanagement, more destitution and modern slavery will result

Daily Star 3rd June 2024 – Bangladeshi Migrant Worker Exploitation and Malaysian Labour Market Alleged Criminal Syndicate: The agencies picked by KL to blame, Bangladesh tells UN OHCHR

Daily Star 2nd June 2024: Controversial recruitment system to stay 3 more years

Daily Star 2nd June – Jobs in Malaysia: Mismanagement left over 3k workers with no ticket to KL

Daily Star 1st June 2024: Must history repeat itself with the Malaysian labour market’s alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour

MALAYSIAKINI June 1st 2024: Controversial worker management system BESTINET gets new lease, sources say

1st June 2024 Kalerkantho: Malaysia’s dream ends in deprivation for Bangladeshi migrant workers of criminal syndicate

FMT 31st May 2024: Expect Bangladeshi workers to be stranded and at high risk of modern slavery following Malaysian migration management deadline rush, warns activist

SCMP 31st May 2024: Malaysians shocked by thousands of Bangladeshis crowding at airport to beat deadline for legal work, as UN and activists warn of increased modern slavery risks

CNA 31st May 2024: Over 30,000 workers set to miss deadline to enter Malaysia even as officials clear backlog at KL airport

Prothomalo 31 May 2024 – Bangladesh – Malaysia’s labour market: Repeated syndicates, repeated closure

Prothomalo 31st May 2024: Bangladesh – Thousands of people crowded Dhaka airport without flight tickets to go to Malaysia

31st May 2024 FMT: Govt reaffirms commitment to protect migrant workers’ rights to UN

31st May 2024: The closure of the labor market in Malaysia has shattered the dreams of 31,000 workers

Daily Star 31 May 2024 – Recruitment in Malaysia: Syndicate siphons over $1b out of Bangladesh

Daily Sun 31st May 2024: Biman sends 2,000 migrant workers to Malaysia

Business Standard 31st May 2024: Malaysia-bound workers scammed, stranded at Dhaka airport as deadline set to expire today

Daily Star 30th May 2024: Manpower syndicates beyond Dhaka-KL control

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

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

9th May 2024: Study: 96% of Bangladeshi workers going to Malaysia fall into recruitment debt– The study also said that 82% had two or more loans and 73% of workers spent at least 50% to 100% of their monthly salary to repay recruitment debts

4th May 2024: UN agencies concerned over Bangladeshi workers stranded in Malaysia – Joint Statement of ILO, IOM and UNODC on Alleged Criminal Syndicate Trafficking Bangladeshi Workers for Forced Labour in Malaysia

24th April 2024: Address plight of duped Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia in response to UN warning, govt told (more on the ongoing saga of an alleged criminal syndicate trafficking Bangladeshi migrant workers for forced labour in Malaysia)

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

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   

See also NST 9th Mar 2024: Sourcing migrant workers takes time, ‘not like buying cattle’, employer groups tell govt

NST 8th Mar 2024: Eliminate middlemen from migrant worker recruitment process, govt told

Star 8th Mar 2024: May 31 deadline for foreign workers recruitment under recalibration programme remains, says Saifuddin

Malay Mail 8th Mar 2024: Saifuddin Nasution: No more agents for Bangladeshi worker recruitment

6th Mar 2024: Malaysian government halts foreign worker entry into the country from 31st May 2024 (final calling visa/VDN approval issuance deadline 31st March 2024) as migrant worker management crisis worsens and victims of gross exploitation, unemployment and destitution rise significantly

6th March 2024: Business Times –Sudden change in foreign worker policy by Malaysian government leaves industry in limbo

6th Mar 2024 Edge: Foreign worker intake deadline changes will leave manufacturers in the lurch, says FMM

6th Mar 2024 FMT: Industry players shocked by foreign worker policy change, says FMM

Mar 5 2024: NCCIM urges govt to review unused foreign worker quota deadline

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 Daily Star 15th July 2026: Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) demands labour reforms in Bangladesh Malaysia corridor appeared first on Andy Hall.

K. Parkaran

Aerofoam Manufacturing Sdn Bhd has given a written commitment to the Bangladesh High Commission to settle unpaid wages and other outstanding issues within six weeks.

Sourced from: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/06/12/bangladesh-mission-steps-in-to-resolve-workers-plight

PETALING JAYA:

A bedding manufacturer in Klang is working to resolve a dispute involving about 100 workers following intervention by the Bangladesh High Commission.

A spokesman for the high commission told FMT that officials met Aerofoam Manufacturing Sdn Bhd’s management on Monday, after which the company pledged to address workers’ concerns, including unpaid wages and the withholding of passports.

“It was a positive meeting as the management made a serious commitment to settle all outstanding matters by the end of this month.

“In a letter of commitment we received yesterday, the company said it needed six weeks to raise the funds required to settle all unpaid wages.

“But all other issues will be addressed with immediate effect,” he said.

In the letter sighted by FMT, the company said it was in the advanced stages of a property transaction, the proceeds of which would be used to settle all outstanding dues.

“The above is our foremost priority. We respectfully request a period of three to six weeks to finalise the transaction and fulfil these obligations,” the letter said.

Aerofoam said all employees would be provided with monthly payslips detailing wages and deductions.

The company also outlined several immediate measures, including returning workers’ passports for safekeeping, improving living quarters, enhancing medical and transport services, and ending the practice of deducting employee deposits.

On recruitment fees, Aerofoam said the charges were imposed by third-party recruitment agents in Bangladesh and were neither collected by nor paid to the company.

“The company did not benefit from these fees.

“Notwithstanding the above, we are open to further dialogue on this matter and are willing to explore ways to assist our employees where feasible,” it said.

Aerofoam also pledged to uphold workplace dignity and workers’ rights at all times, saying it does not condone forced labour, verbal abuse, humiliating treatment, or psychological harassment.

The company said it had appointed a dedicated officer to handle employee grievances and ensure open communication between management and workers.

FMT has reached out to Aerofoam for comment.

8th June 2026: Bangladeshi Workers Face Wage Theft and Legal Limbo at Malaysian Manufacturing Firm

By: Staff Reporter

Published: 8 June 2026, 10:11 PM 

Sourced from: https://www.sayalwaystruth.com/en/local/bangladeshi-workers-face-wage-theft-and-legal-limbo-at-malaysian-manufacturing-firm/#google_vignette

Bangladeshi migrant workers employed at a bedding manufacturing facility in Malaysia are facing a severe humanitarian crisis, marked by three months of unpaid wages, the withholding of personal passports, and the expiration of legal work permits. The affected employees, working for Aerofoam Manufacturing (1969) Sdn Bhd, have formally petitioned the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources’ labor department, known as Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK), to intervene in what they describe as a state of systemic exploitation.

Documentation provided by the Migrant Welfare Network (MWN), an organization dedicated to the protection of migrant rights, highlights the dire circumstances facing these workers. Deprived of income for the past quarter, many are unable to cover daily living expenses or send essential financial support to their families in Bangladesh. The financial strain is compounded by the heavy debt burdens many workers assumed to secure their employment, leading to mounting interest and extreme psychological distress.

The situation is further complicated by the company’s failure to renew work permits for approximately 35 employees. Despite entering the country legally, these workers now face the constant threat of arrest, detention, or heavy fines due to their current undocumented status. Compounding these legal risks is the company’s retention of workers’ passports, a practice that restricts freedom of movement and violates standard labor protocols.

Beyond financial and legal insecurity, the workforce reports abusive working conditions. Allegations include being coerced into mandatory overtime without adequate rest, resulting in significant physical and mental exhaustion. Workers further cited a lack of transport facilities and the absence of any internal mechanism to address grievances, leaving them effectively silenced within the workplace.

The petition submitted to Malaysian authorities outlines a series of urgent demands, including the immediate disbursement of back wages, the regularization of visas and work permits, and the unconditional return of all seized passports. Additionally, the workers have requested an official investigation into the recruitment process, specifically regarding the high placement fees charged, and called for the cessation of compulsory overtime. The workers are now urging the Malaysian labor department to conduct a swift inquiry while ensuring they are protected from potential retaliatory actions by the employer.

Topics: BangladeshComplaintsDetentionHuman RightsMalaysiaMigrant WorkersPassport

MWN 7th June 2026: AeroFoam protest (FB post)

Over 100 migrant workers at Aerofoam Manufacturing (1969) Sdn. Bhd. are demanding justice after months of unpaid wages, passport retention, poor living conditions, and ongoing uncertainty over their legal status.
Many workers paid huge recruitment fees and are now trapped in debt while struggling to support their families. Today, workers raised their voices and called for immediate intervention.
We urge JTK, the Bangladesh High Commission, ILO, IOM, brands, buyers, and all relevant authorities to take urgent action, investigate these allegations, and ensure workers receive their unpaid wages and fundamental rights without delay.
Workers deserve dignity, not exploitation.
Bangladesh High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sourced from: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1QvPyh2J7g/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The post FMT 12th June 2026: Bangladesh mission in Malaysia steps in to resolve workers’ plight (alleged forced labour case) at AeroFoam Sdn Bhd appeared first on Andy Hall.

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

GENEVA (21 November 2025) – UN human rights experts* today expressed renewed concern about the continued exploitation, deception, and deepening debt bondage of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia.

 
“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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