Bangladesh to send 1.5 million workers to Malaysia

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved on Tuesday a proposal to send 1.5 million workers to Malaysia periodically over the upcoming three years.

Government Spokesperson Mohammed Seiful Alam said that the final deal with Malaysia will be signed in a month, which will replace the deals previously signed in 2012 and 2014. Female workers will also be allowed to work in Malaysia as part of the new deal. Workers will be sent to Bangladesh by private companies under government supervision.

Alam said that Bangladeshi workers will be employed in manufacturing, construction and service sectors. Previous deals allowed the workers to be employed in agriculture.

According to official numbers, approximately 600,000 Bangladeshi workers are employed in Malaysia, which needs a legal framework for foreign workers to be employed in its booming construction, palm and rubber industries.

The agreement aims to prevent illegal migration and employment, and Malaysia demands Bangladesh to choose the workers and give them their basic training.

With its population exceeding 156 million in a very densely populated developing country, Bangladeshis often travel abroad for employment, especially in Gulf Arab countries.

Due to the proximity between Bangladesh and Malaysia, along with Islam being the most practiced religion in both countries, Malaysia stands out as a good option for the Bangladeshi labor force. Currently there are around six million Bangladeshis living abroad.