DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT

Malaysia has taken initiatives to introduce a technology-driven labour recruitment system for all source countries, including Bangladesh, aimed at ensuring zero-cost migration as per the ILO guidelines, as the two countries agreed to expedite reopening of labour market.

The issues were discussed during a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh and Malaysia in Putrajaya yesterday, according to a joint statement.

“The system would ensure that employers bear the full cost of recruitment, resulting in zero cost to workers, in line with the Employer Pays Principle under the guidelines of the International Labour Organization (ILO),” it said.

Ariful Haque Choudhury, expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment and labour and employment minister, led the Bangladesh side, while the Malaysian side was led by Ramanan Ramakrishnan, minister of human resources. Mahdi Amin, prime minister’s adviser on overseas employment, was present.

Currently, there are over 8,00,000 Bangladeshis working there, but the recruitment in the Southeast Asian country was frozen on May 31, 2024, following allegations

SEE PAGE 7 COL 4