Manpower export to Malaysia hits a snag
The news
from Malaysia that it would not take any workers from foreign countries including Bangladesh is really
surprising
When the Bangladesh government is creating much hype that Malaysia is going to take 15 Bangladeshi workers under G2G Plus system in the next three years, the news from Malaysia that it would not take any workers from foreign countries including Bangladesh is really surprising. However, it is good to hear from the Malaysian government yesterday that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the G2G Plus system that was recently signed remains unaffected. After the rather not very successful government-to-government (G2G) system, it was felt that private recruiting agencies have to be incorporated for sending workers and thus the necessity of the new G2G Plus system.
Even though from the relevant ministry it has been said that Malaysian decision to stop recruiting workers is not very worrying, but the fact remains to be acknowledged that our economy crucially depends on the remittance sent by our workers abroad and the expatriates welfare and overseas employment ministry has over the years conspicuously failed to send workers abroad smoothly despite the fact this separate ministry to deal with the workers recruitment has been working for the last 15 years.
Had this not been the case, the remittance inflow would not have dropped down at present. Often we come by news that the Gulf countries, the major destinations of Bangladeshi workers, clamp down recruiting Bangladeshi workers. And in the recent case, Malaysia unequivocally said that foreign workers without valid documents overstay there and its needs to send back the illegal workers.
For some years the Malaysian government has been launching a massive crackdown on the illegal Bangladeshi emigrant workers who are facing catastrophic consequences. Overall, Bangladesh has an ill reputation of sending illegal workers abroad and countries in general show not much interest in recruiting our workers.
But if we want to keep our economy moving, we have to seriously address the constraints facing the sector. Bangladesh government must put in place a smooth system to send workers abroad with minimum of cost so that workers do not venture to go to other countries through illegal means.
Though everyone realises the role of remittance in our economy, this sector is performing in a haphazard way for a long time without a well thought-out policy. Now, for increasing the number of workers going abroad, Bangladesh needs political as well as diplomatic manoeuvring. Our missions abroad must now work relentlessly to persuade the foreign governments, not just Malaysia, for taking Bangladeshi workers addressing these countries complaints against our workers. This homework is very vital.
