Legal action to be taken against manpower recruitment syndicate: Asif Nazrul
He issued the warning while exchanging views with Baira members
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul has said no form of syndication will be allowed in the Malaysian labour market.
"Legal action will be taken against those previously involved in such activities," he said on Saturday at a meeting with a Bangladesh Association of International Requiting Agencies (Baira) delegation, says a press release issued yesterday.
Malaysian authorities had previously restricted the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers to only 100 agencies out of 2,500 registered agencies, a practice widely regarded as syndication. Some agency owners have been accused of lobbying within Malaysia to dominate the market for personal financial gain at the expense of workers, Baira members revealed.
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Regarding the Malaysian Medical Syndicate, Adviser Asif Nazrul said all medical centers approved by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare will be allowed to conduct medical examinations for a fee of Tk3000. Additionally, the classification process for recruiting agencies has been postponed after opposition from BAIRA members.
A committee with representatives from both Baira and the Ministry will review the classification process and take further action, he added.
Asif Nazrul further instructed the Ministry's secretary to ensure that the FDR dividend from recruiting licenses is awarded to the owners of the licenses.
He assured that discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would allow all Bangladeshi recruiting agencies to secure licenses for operations in the Saudi labour market.
Regarding the Baira election, the adviser has said to appoint an administrator to facilitate the prompt organisation of elections and the formation of a new Baira committee.
He asked the ministry's secretary to assist in the process of selecting and appointing the administrator to ensure smooth coordination.
Baira acting president Riaz-ul-Islam, former secretary general Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, Khandaker Overseas owner Khandaker Abu Ashafque, Mostofa Mahmud and others were also present.
