Malaysia to recruit up to 40,000 Bangladeshi workers next year: Asif Nazrul

Malaysia is expected to recruit a maximum of 30,000 to 40,000 workers from Bangladesh in the coming year, said Asif Nazrul, advisor to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Addressing a seminar titled “Japan’s Labor Market: Opportunities and Challenges” at the International Mother Language Institute on Wednesday, Nazrul dismissed rumors that Malaysia would hire between one and 1.2 million Bangladeshi workers.

He explained that the previous government had signed an agreement with Malaysia, establishing a syndicate of recruiting agencies. “Malaysia provides a list of recruiting agencies, and we select from them,” he said. However, the current administration is facing pressure to end this syndicate arrangement, which requires renegotiating the agreement—a challenging task given Malaysia’s stance.

Nazrul said the government has two options: continue sending workers through the syndicate or stop sending workers altogether. “If we stop, 40,000 workers will lose opportunities, and up to 200,000 families could be affected in the future,” he warned.

On Japan’s labor market, Nazrul said there is strong demand for Bangladeshi workers but stressed the need for skill development. “Many workers are unskilled despite language training. We plan to establish a dedicated Japan cell and create a website to support recruitment, alongside public-private partnerships to enhance worker skills,” he added.

He also revealed plans to partner with organizations like the As-Sunnah Foundation and extend loan facilities for students traveling abroad, a service currently unavailable through the Expatriates Welfare Bank.