FREEZE ON MANPOWER RECRUITMENT

Dhaka-KL MoU unaffected

Says Malaysian Human Resources Minister Richard Riot

Malaysia yesterday said the decision to freeze all recruitment of foreign workers would not affect the validity of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Bangladesh government. Malaysian Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot made the revelation in a two-paragraph statement, according to The Star online. "Further details on the decision to freeze foreign worker recruitment will be announced by the Government," Riot said in the statement. However, he said his ministry welcomed the "positive" decision, as it clearly reflected the Government's priority of providing employment opportunities to local workers. On Friday, the Malaysian government suspended the recruitment of all foreign workers, including those from Bangladesh, pending a review of the levy and rehiring programme. Bangladesh Additional Secretary to the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, Jabed Ahmed, however, ruled out any uncertainty over manpower exports, hours after Malaysia ordered the freeze on the employment of foreign workers. “We have not officially been informed of the announcement yet. We will wait for the details from the Malaysian ambassador,” Ahmed told The Independent. “It cannot be said that Malaysia’s announcement has plunged workers’ recruitment in Malaysia into uncertainty. We planned to send 15 lakh workers to Malaysia in the next three years. A mere announcement cannot make us feel uncertain about the deal between the two countries,” he argued on Friday. The Malaysian move came just a day after the signing of a Government-to-Government (G2G) Plus deal between Malaysia and Bangladesh on workers’ recruitment. Announcing the decision, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the suspension would enable the Government to reconsider the revised two-tier levy for foreign workers. His announcement came amid uproar from several civil and trade groups, who urged the Malaysian government to legalise the existing migrants instead. Zahid had previously justified his government’s move to bring in Bangladeshi workers, whom he said were there for the 3D jobs (dirty, difficult and dangerous), which locals preferred not to do.

 

 

FREEZE ON MANPOWER RECRUITMENT

Dhaka-KL MoU unaffected

Says Malaysian Human Resources Minister Richard Riot

Malaysia yesterday said the decision to freeze all recruitment of foreign workers would not affect the validity of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Bangladesh government. Malaysian Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot made the revelation in a two-paragraph statement, according to The Star online. Further details on the decision to freeze foreign worker recruitment will be announced by the Government, Riot said in the statement. However, he said his ministry welcomed the positive decision, as it clearly reflected the Governments priority of providing employment opportunities to local workers. On Friday, the Malaysian government suspended the recruitment of all foreign workers, including those from Bangladesh, pending a review of the levy and rehiring programme. Bangladesh Additional Secretary to the Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, Jabed Ahmed, however, ruled out any uncertainty over manpower exports, hours after Malaysia ordered the freeze on the employment of foreign workers. We have not officially been informed of the announcement yet. We will wait for the details from the Malaysian ambassador, Ahmed told The Independent. It cannot be said that Malaysias announcement has plunged workers recruitment in Malaysia into uncertainty. We planned to send 15 lakh workers to Malaysia in the next three years. A mere announcement cannot make us feel uncertain about the deal between the two countries, he argued on Friday. The Malaysian move came just a day after the signing of a Government-to-Government (G2G) Plus deal between Malaysia and Bangladesh on workers recruitment. Announcing the decision, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the suspension would enable the Government to reconsider the revised two-tier levy for foreign workers. His announcement came amid uproar from several civil and trade groups, who urged the Malaysian government to legalise the existing migrants instead. Zahid had previously justified his governments move to bring in Bangladeshi workers, whom he said were there for the 3D jobs (dirty, difficult and dangerous), which locals preferred not to do.