350,000 Bangladeshi workers will be legalised in Malaysia

According to a report in The Daily Star, Nurul Islam BSc, minister of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, has announced yesterday that temporary work permits have been issued by the Malaysian government to undocumented workers.

Islam mentioned in the report that the present government has initiated a process for the legalisation of 2,067,000 undocumented Bangladeshi workers abroad through diplomatic efforts. This includes 800,000 in Saudi Arabia; 267,000 in Malaysia; and 1,000,000 in Iraq.

While replying to a tabled question from opposition bench member M Shawkat Chowdhury (Nilphamary-4) in the Jatiya Sangsad, he said: “As part of the decision, around 350,000 undocumented Bangladeshi workers would be legalised in Malaysia and get scope for working there.”

Adding on, the minister also highlighted that the decision on the legalisation process was taken following telephonic conversations between Bangladesh prime minister and Malaysian prime minister on 15 January this year.

He had informed the House that the Malaysian government has undertaken Rehiring Programme for legalisation of undocumented workers. Islam also added that the time frame of the Rehiring Programme has been increased by six months due to diplomatic efforts of the Bangladesh government.

Islam noted that 200,000 Bangladeshi workers were registered under the Rehiring Programme while the rest of 150,000 would get similar scopes at the moment.

Photo/ 123RF