Bangladesh orders probe into fraud against Malaysia-bound workers

 

The Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission has ordered an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of BDT1,500,000,000 (approximately RM60,109,200) from Malaysia-bound workers.

According to the Bangladeshi news portal The Business Standard, the alleged embezzlement by certain organisations and individuals of nearly 30,000 workers occurred under the guise of providing plane tickets.

This prevented the workers from departing to Malaysia ahead of the May 31 deadline.

The commission launched a suo moto complaint, an act of authority of its own accord without being formally prompted by involved parties.

It identified the organisations and individuals responsible and asked authorities to take action against them.

It also urged for steps to be taken so that the workers with visas can leave for Malaysia.

Besides that, the commission directed the secretary of the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry to take immediate measures and submit a report by July 10.

“Thousands of aspirant migrant workers have been facing uncertainty and distress as they tried to reach Malaysia before the May 31 deadline set by authorities in the destination country due to the mismanagement and dubious dealings of a syndicate of recruiting agencies.

“According to sector insiders, the deadline set by Malaysian authorities has left over 10,000 aspiring migrants still waiting for flights.

“Many are unable to secure tickets due to delays caused by recruiting agencies,” the report said.

Putrajaya urged to extend deadline

On May 31, Bangladeshi recruitment agencies urged Putrajaya to extend the deadline for migrant worker entry from Bangladesh by up to two months to allow workers who had already been approved to make their way to Malaysia.

A total of 31,701 workers from Bangladesh had obtained approval to work in Malaysia but were unable to make it to the country by the deadline, Bangladeshi news website Kaler Kontho reported.

The deadline had also prompted a rush of migrant workers entering Malaysia, with Kuala Lumpur International Airport terminals forced to cope with four times the arrival capacity over the few days before the deadline.

Separately, migrant rights NGO Tenaganita and North South Initiative said they learnt that many of the workers who have arrived do not have ready employment.

On March 8, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the May 31 deadline would remain based on a decision by all regulatory agencies under his ministry and ministries involved in the Labour Recalibration Programme 2.0.

This was due to national security factors, he said. - Mkini