Exclusive: Minister says Malaysian labour market must open

Amid uncertainty over the reopening of Bangladesh labour market in Malaysia, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad has insisted that the market will open but it may take some time.

After closure of the labour market for over a year, hope grew about opening up it when Bangladesh and Malaysia were set to hold a meeting in the last week of November but the latter country unexpectedly postponed the talks, raising doubt about recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in the country.

Earlier in September last year, Malaysia stopped taking workers from Bangladesh raising allegation of unfair business operations by an organized circle.

In interview with Jago News, Minister Imran talked about global labour market, skill of Bangladeshi labourers, present condition of Bangladeshi female workers in KSA, Dhaka's efforts to protect them and so on.   

Jago News: Uncertainty is looming large over Malaysian labour market, when we will see a light of hope?

Imran Ahmad: Though it will take some time but a good news about Bangladesh labour market in Malaysia must come and it open. Malaysia will set the whole way and they will inform in which process they will recruite workers.

Jago News: The market was closed down making allegation of syndicate. In which process workers would newly be sent?

Imran Ahmad: I am not for using the word 'syndicate'. Bangladesh has not created syndicate but Malaysia and it's the unfair mean of earning money.

We did not shut the market because of syndicate but Malaysia government did. I don't know a worker had to pay how much money when around 3 lakh Bangladeshi ones entered the country when there was syndicate or through G-To-G Plus system.

Jago News: New process is being thought to send workers, how amount of costs would be?

Imran Ahmad: We want a labourer goes to Malaysia spending between Tk 1.50 lakh to 2 lakh and if it actually happens I will think I kept my promise.

Jago News: Who are more harmful for the labour market?

Imran Ahmad: People with greed for money are more dangerous.

Jago News: Workers go to a country and flee to another. Several Bangladseshi workers have recently died when they were fleeing to Europe. What you will say about them?

Imran Ahmad: We have knowledge about the unfortunate deaths. We are thinking about taking workers' sign on a bond before they depart Bangladesh. There would be scope to take measure regarding this.

Jago News: Whether new any labour market has opened apart from the Middle East and traditional ones?

Imran Ahmad: Some labour markets have opened in China, Japan, Combodia and so on. It will open in Mauritius. Discussion is on with Sudan, Uganda, Poland and Germany in this regard.

Jago News: How kind of workers China wants to take?

Imran Ahmad: A person who completed graduation and have two years' work experience can go to China. After taking worker from Bangladesh, China will provide food and accommodation to them free of costs. The country will first train up them and then appoint in workplace.

Jago News: Recruiting Bangladeshi workers in United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains shut for a few years. Unrest prevails also in other Middle East countries. Can new markets become alternative to the larger ones?

Imran Ahmad: See, it would be possible to send around 3 lakh workers to Malaysia if the labour market openes and that will reduce somewhat the deficit of going labourers in Middle East market.

Jago News: There is a little bit disrepute of Bangladeshi workers in diffrent countries of the world.....

Imran Ahmad: It's true in some cases but I think Bangladeshi workers abroad are the best.

Jago News: Recently Brunei has deported some Bangladeshis.....

Imran Ahmed: Bangladeshi brokers have damaged the labour market in Brunei. The brokers sent back by the country must face jail here.

Jago News: Want to know about implementation of the plan taken by the government five years ago to make database of the workers who eager to go abroad.

Imran Ahmad: We still could not make progress in making database.

Our plan is that those who want to go abroad would be included in the database, and the recruiters will take workers from the database. We can exclude brokers from the process because people require to deposit money to government bank account for going overseas.

Jago News: Excessive migration expenses push workers in danger most. Want your remark about it?

Imran Ahmad: I will not let migration costs reach Tk 6 to seven lakh. I must keep an eye so that a worker is not bound to sell homestead for going overseas.

I believe I can overcome all challenges of the sector with my noble intention.