High-level discussions between Bangladesh and Malaysia have made significant progress towards finalising a framework for recruiting Bangladeshi workers through a specified number of licences, with the protection of workers’ interests, legitimate recruiting agencies and both countries’ interests being given top priority, according to sources.

The sources said Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin have been playing a key role through a series of discussions with the relevant Malaysian authorities.

They expressed hope that several long-standing unresolved issues would move towards a solution through the ongoing efforts.

The discussions have particularly focused on Bangladeshi workers who were affected by the sudden closure of Malaysia’s labour market, especially those who could not enter Malaysia despite having previously approved Calling Visas.

Detailed discussions have been held on ensuring fresh employment opportunities for those workers, with both sides stressing the need for swift implementation of the measures, the sources said.

At ministerial-level meetings, the two sides discussed various difficulties faced by Bangladeshi workers, transparency in the recruitment process and ways to ensure stability in the labour market in the future.

They also exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral trade and diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Malaysia.

According to the sources, a joint technical or working committee meeting scheduled for Thursday (July 30) may unveil the final framework for the recruitment and deployment of workers.

New recruitment from Bangladesh is likely to begin based on decisions reached at the meeting, they said.

As a result of intensive discussions between the two countries throughout July and Bangladesh’s sincere efforts, Malaysia’s Human Resources Ministry is expected to give priority to processing applications for the recruitment of foreign workers from the first week of August, the sources said.

The two sides have also held policy-level discussions on resuming the submission of recruitment applications through the Foreign Workers Management System (FWMS), quota allocation after recruitment applications, workers’ visa approvals and medical procedures, with positive decisions reportedly reached on the issues.

Bangladesh has also placed particular emphasis on sending workers at low or zero cost through the One-Stop Service (OSS) under the RBA and government-to-government (G2G) mechanisms.

The discussions also reached a policy-level understanding that recruitment under the business-to-business (B2B) mechanism would be carried out based on the genuine demand of Malaysian employers, in line with Malaysia’s existing policies and with the consent of the Bangladesh government.

The stakeholders believe that if the ongoing coordinated efforts between the two countries succeed, they will open new opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia after a prolonged period of uncertainty.

They also expect the process to make legal recruitment more transparent, organised and sustainable, playing an important role in protecting the rights and interests of Bangladeshi workers.