BAIRA members urge Malaysian PM to prevent syndicate system in worker recruitment

Members of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) have called on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Bangladeshi interim government head Dr Yunus to prevent the resurgence of a recruiting agency syndicate in Malaysia's labour market. 

"On behalf of BAIRA's 2,500 members and the workers bound for Malaysia, we respectfully request the Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia to open the labour market to all, without favouring any syndicate, just as is done with other countries," said the joint secretary general of BAIRA's past committee Mohammad Fakhrul Islam said today (3 October) during a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

"We never imagine that syndicates will be formed under the leadership of Prof Yunus. If syndicates appear again there will be no difference between the interim government and the previous autocratic govt.," he added.

He further said, "The Malaysian government was not solely responsible for the syndicate; our former authoritarian government was also involved. Many believe that the current Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare supports the syndicate. We want his position to be made clear."

BARIA members also emphasised that the syndicate had previously tarnished the reputations of both governments.

At the press conference, Riaz-ul-Islam, acting president of BAIRA's past committee said, "We will continue our movement if syndicate will form again." 

From 2009 to 2015, Malaysia's labour market was closed to Bangladeshi workers. When it reopened in 2016 under the Sheikh Hasina government, only 10 Bangladeshi agencies were allowed to send workers, forming a syndicate. 

Allegedly, former BAIRA Secretary Ruhul Amin Shapan and Malaysian businessman Dato Amin played key roles in this corrupt system, though Shapan denied involvement. Corruption accusations led to the market's closure again in 2018. 

In 2021, the syndicate reformed with the influence of Awami League ministers, initially allowing 25, later 100 agencies. 

Since June 2023, Malaysia has halted hiring Bangladeshi workers, with the issue set to be a key agenda during Anwar Ibrahim's visit.