DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT

Malaysia and Bangladesh have agreed to work towards establishing a more transparent recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus told Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama in an interview published yesterday.

He said the matter was discussed in depth during his meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on August 12.

Prof Yunus also acknowledged flaws in the current process and stressed the need to “clean it up” to avoid problems for either side.

Malaysia froze recruitment of foreign workers on May 13 last year following massive irregularities involving a syndicate of 101 recruiting agents, who were accused of charging each worker between Tk 450,000 and Tk 600,000. There were numerous reports of joblessness, non-payment of wages and other forms of exploitation.

“We had a very elaborate discussion on how to proceed without having trouble for the Malaysian government. We both promised ourselves to clean up the system and to make it easier and transparent,” Prof Yunus told Bernama.

The Nobel laureate said while Malaysia needs foreign workers, Bangladesh seeks to ensure that the recruitment of its citizens is transparent, allowing them to work abroad with dignity, proper rights and benefits.

“Malaysia needs people, and we need to have these In

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