PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Bangladesh have agreed to clean up migrant workers’ recruitment process and reduce the role of middlemen, blamed for exploiting workers as Dhaka pressed to reopen its labour market.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said abuses against foreign workers who were exploited and ill-treated for personal gain must not be tolerated.
“Yes, we need the workers, but more importantly, (we need) to protect the welfare of workers and their families,” he said at a joint press conference with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Anwar acknowledged that the recruitment of foreign workers, while critical to Malaysia’s economy, had invited scandals and humanitarian concerns.
He said he appreciated Tarique’s commitment, expressed in private and in their bilateral meeting, that both countries must take the lead in stopping the excesses, ensure the system is transparent and meet the requirements of both countries.
Tarique said Bangladesh had asked for Malaysia to take in more workers from his country and reopen its labour market.
“I said to Prime Minister Anwar, to consider recruiting more Bangladeshi workers, open up labour markets.
“We also agreed that recruitment should be transparent, fair and affordable, reducing intermediaries and lowering the cost for foreign workers,” he said.
“Bangladeshi workers, students, professionals and entrepreneurs in Malaysia serve as an important bridge between our two countries.
“Their contribution benefits both our economy and societies,” Tarique added.
Since 2024, Malaysia has restricted the hiring of workers from Bangladesh amid allegations of debt bondage and forced labour.
Tarique said the two countries’ labour ties ran back decades, recalling that his father, the late president Ziaur Rahman, visited Malaysia in April 1975.
“His visit strengthened political ties and laid the foundation for labour cooperation between our countries,” he said.
Tarique said his mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, had also visited Malaysia as premier in 1993, describing Malaysia as a trusted, long-standing partner, with ties built on mutual trust, shared values and strong people-to-people links.
Malaysia is one of the region’s biggest importers of foreign labour, with about 2.1 million registered low-skilled foreign workers as of November last year across sectors such as construction, manufacturing, plantation and services.
In February, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R Ramanan told The Star that a new direct hiring system for foreign workers is in the works to eliminate the middlemen’s role in the hiring process.
Bangladesh is Malaysia’s 28th largest trading partner globally, with total trade amounting to RM12.18bil in 2025.
Malaysia’s total exports to Bangladesh were valued at RM10.08bil with petroleum products constituting the principal export, while imports from Bangladesh amounted to RM2.10bil, comprising mainly textiles, apparel and footwear.
Earlier, Tarique was accorded an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex, and held a bilateral meeting with Anwar.
Tarique and his delegation arrived in Malaysia on Sunday for an official visit at Anwar’s invitation. This marks his first bilateral official visit abroad since assuming office in February.
The Prime Minister and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail later hosted Tarique and his spouse Dr Zubaida Rahman to a luncheon at Seri Perdana.
