Recruiting agencies demand abolition of syndicate in manpower export to Malaysia

Manpower exporters have demanded that all labour destination countries, including Malaysia, be kept open to them, abolishing the syndicate system.

The demand was raised from a rally organised by "Baira Syndicate Nirmul Oikyajote" on Monday evening at Mogbazar Convention Centre.

Kazi M A Kashem, proprietor of Al-Jazira International, said, "Most of the members of Bangladesh International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) are united against the syndicate to prevent dominancy in the business. We want equal opportunities for all 1,200 members of Baira."

Malaysia, home to around eight lakh Bangladeshis, suspended labour recruitment from Bangladesh in September 2018 following allegations of monopoly by a syndicate of recruiting agents and high cost of migration.

Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, immediate past secretary general of Baira, told TBS, "The Bangladesh government has started the process to sign a protocol with the Malaysian government to reopen the labour market. We urge our government to ensure equal business access for all recruiting agencies in the protocol."

"However, we've heard that the previous syndicate has become active again as the labour market is going to reopen. Agency owners are concerned about it," he added.

Malaysia agreed to reopen its labour market to Bangladeshi migrant workers in October last year.

During a virtual meeting with Bangladesh's Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, Malaysian Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan gave his consent to start taking Bangladeshi workers as soon as possible.