Work in Malaysia: Recruitment cartel gearing up again

A cartel of overseas recruitment agents that once exploited Bangladeshi workers migrating to Malaysia is allegedly becoming active again -- this time without the involvement of Awami League leaders.

Industry insiders say this has been happening just as the interim government is trying to get Malaysia to resume taking Bangladesh workers. Overseas employment Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul is expected to visit Malaysia on May 15 to discuss the matter.

Amid reports of irregularities, Malaysia suspended hiring Bangladeshi workers several times, the latest being in June 2024.

Before the suspension, thousands of crores of taka changed hands, with each worker having to spend around Tk 544,000 even though the ceiling set by the government was just Tk 78,990.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is currently investigating ex-finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, and former lawmakers Nizam Uddin Hazari, Lt Gen (retired) Masud Uddin Chowdhury, and Benazir Ahmed for their links to the cartel.

Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) demonstrated several times in recent months and wrote to Prof Asif, requesting that the government take steps to resist formation of another syndicate.

Association leaders say key members of the cartel -- notably Ruhul Amin Swapon, a recruitment agency owner, and Amin Noor, a Bangladesh born Malaysia citizen, who runs an online platform through which the authorities choose recruitment agents -- are becoming active again, colluding with people from political parties.

Fakhrul Islam, former joint secretary general of BAIRA, said, "The cartel creates a system where Bangladeshi agents must bribe the syndicate for the migration of each worker."

On February 5 this year, BAIRA submitted a memorandum to Prof Asif, calling for legal action against the ringleaders.

Last year, Malaysia authorities selected 100 Bangladeshi recruitment agents from a list of 1,520. There were allegations that the agents who bribed the cartel were chosen.

Riajul Islam, former BAIRA vice-president, said, "Currently, all arrangements are being made to go back to the old ways.

HOW MALAYSIA HIRES FROM BANGLADESH

Malaysia selects Bangladesh agents by using Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), an online platform.

MyGrams, an app used in the process, is owned by Bestinet, a firm owned by Noor.

There are allegations that the online tools are manipulated by Noor's firm.

BAIRA leaders demand changes in the MoU between Bangladesh and Malaysia or a new bilateral deal.

The current MoU is valid until August 2026.

On April 7, UK-based rights activist Andy Hall issued a statement, warning that a syndicate was being formed and calling for revisions to the MoU.

Despite repeated attempts, Ruhul Amin and Aminul Islam could not be reached for comment.

Contacted, Shahidul Islam Chowdhury, joint secretary (employment) at the expatriates' welfare ministry, said, "There will be a joint working group meeting in Dhaka on May 20–21, in which these concerns will be at the top of the agenda."

Shariful Hasan, head of migration programme at BRAC, said, "For four decades, Malaysia's labour market has been plagued by exploitation and mismanagement. Every time reforms were promised, exploitation worsened. If this government, born of an uprising, follows the same path, it will be tragic for our workers and the country."