Both sides seek to ensure that the hiring process for Bangladeshi workers is transparent to protect their interests
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenUshar DanielePublished: 3:49pm, 22 Jun 2026Updated: 3:50pm, 22 Jun 2026Bangladesh’s new leader has urged Malaysia to reopen its labour market to more Bangladeshi workers, even as migrant rights groups warned that both governments must first address years of recruitment abuse, debt and stranded-worker cases.Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made the request to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during talks in Putrajaya on Monday, his first foreign visit since taking office, while seeking to broaden bilateral ties.Tarique said he had asked Anwar to consider recruiting more Bangladeshi workers and reopening the labour market as soon as possible, while also raising issues related to undocumented workers and possible repatriation of detained Bangladeshis.
“We agree that recruitment should be transparent, fair and affordable, reducing the role of intermediaries and lowering the cost of overseas employment,” he said during a joint press conference in Putrajaya.
Anwar reaffirmed that Bangladeshi workers remained crucial to Malaysia’s economy but warned that exploitation, mistreatment and recruitment scandals could not continue.
“This continued use of workers being exploited, ill-treated and purely used for personal company gains cannot be tolerated,” Anwar said.
