The ongoing discussions between Malaysia and Bangladesh on new recruitment terms for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia are expected to continue in Putrajaya on Nov 6, according to sources.
A source familiar with the matter told Malaysiakini that the new date was set following the postponement of a Sept 24 Malaysia-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting in Dhaka.
Reasons for the postponement have remained unclear so far, but an aide to Human Resource Minister M Kulasegaran, when contacted, indicated that ongoing discussions would proceed on the new date.
"Tentatively confirmed," the aide said in a text message.
It is understood that the next bilateral meeting will finalise the draft of a new Memorandum of Understanding to be signed at a later date.
Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Observer previously reported that Kulasegaran was initially scheduled to meet with Bangladesh's Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed to discuss the lifting of Malaysia's moratorium on the hiring of workers from Bangladesh.
"Once the agreement is signed and the necessary mechanisms are finalised, Bangladesh will start sending workers following the requirements.
"We will send workers - skilled, semi-skilled and professional - following their (Malaysia's) demands," Imran was quoted as saying in The Daily Observer report.
In July, Imran, who was on a three-day working visit to Malaysia, said Bangladesh had expected to reach an agreement on a new recruitment mechanism last month.
On Sept 1 last year, Putrajaya suspended the Foreign Worker Application System (SPPA) for Bangladeshi workers, which only allowed the recruitment process to be carried out by 10 selected agencies.
The previous system saw Bangladeshi workers apparently having to fork out up to RM20,000 in processing fee per person to agents to facilitate work permit approvals and other arrangements to work in Malaysia. - Mkini
No need la..so many of them here. Settle our unemployment first.
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