Aiming to make the process of manpower export to Malaysia smooth and corruption free, the government is going to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the East Asian country soon.

However, the government has accepted some tough conditions set by the Malaysian government and the cabinet approved a draft of the MoU with minor amendments on September 22, sources said.

Manpower export to Malaysia will resume after signing of the MoU expected to take place during the upcoming visit of Malaysian minister for human resources. The schedule for the visit is yet to be finalised.

Malaysia had stopped importing manpower from Bangladeshi in 1996 due to irregularities of recruiting agencies, harassment on job seekers and some social problems within the East Asian country.

However, the ban was lifted in July this year following hectic efforts by a number of ministers. The prime

minister also requested her Malaysian counterpart to resume manpower import from Bangladesh.

Sources said the strict conditions set by Malaysian authorities were accepted with a view to halting irregularities and corruption, harassment and exploitation of workers and curbing social problems in Malaysia.

The Malaysian government prepared the draft of the MoU and the Bangladesh side approved it with minor amendments considering importance of retaining Bangladesh's manpower market in Malaysia.

According to the draft, Bangladeshi workers will have to be 18-40 years of age and able to communicate either in Malaysian or English language to get a job there.

Malaysian employers will keep the passports of Bangladeshi workers and submit them to Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur if any worker escapes from the workplace.

Besides, the draft said, a Bangladeshi worker will lose job instantly if he or she weds any

Malaysian citizen.

The employers will meet the levy, visa processing fee and other expenses of the workers but the money will be deducted later from their monthly salaries.

However, the draft suggested Bangladeshi workers and Malaysian citizens engaged in similar types of job would get equal wages.

The employers will have to arrange medical check-up of the workers every year and bear the costs of their travel to workplaces from airports.

Sources said the government is taking necessary steps to remove sufferings of workers, ensure accountability of recruiting agencies and simplify the entire process of manpower export to Malaysia.

Malaysia had taken some 3 lakh workers from Bangladesh from 1986 to 1996. The Malaysian government recently agreed to give extension to some 1,13,000 Bangladeshi workers overstaying there.