Govt warns against illegal transactions for Malaysia-bound workers

Dhaka: The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has issued an urgent notice warning workers and recruiting agents against making any communication or financial transactions related to sending workers to Malaysia until further notification.

The ministry instructed that no medical tests or financial transactions should be conducted before sending workers until an official announcement is published.

Until then, recruiting agents have been asked to refrain from signing contracts, collecting passports, arranging medical tests, or carrying out financial transactions with workers wishing to travel to Malaysia.

For complaints or further information, the ministry advised contacting the Expatriate Call Center at 16135 from within the country or (+880) 961-010-2030 from abroad.

Affected individuals may also reach out to the ministry's Focal Point Officer for Malaysia, Md. Hedayetul Islam Mondal, at (+880) 241-030-241, via email at dsemployment1@probashi.gov.bd, or on mobile at (+880) 171-604-8115.

The warning came as Malaysia reopened its labor market for Bangladeshi workers following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit to the country.

The market had remained shut since June 1, 2024, when it was closed for the third time after similar suspensions in 2008 and 2018.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said on July 7 that the government hopes to begin sending workers free of cost within the next one to two months.

Unlike earlier arrangements, Bangladesh will now select the recruiting agencies instead of Malaysia, with officials emphasizing coordinated efforts to prevent syndicates and corruption.