'How can I return home': Debt-ridden Malaysia-bound workers seek compensation from recruiting agencies

Hoping for better prospects, Abdul Momin entrusted Tk6 lakh to Al Hera Overseas, a recruiting agency, through a broker, to secure a job in Malaysia. However, for about a year and a half, the former employee of a cloth shop in Sirajganj, found himself chasing the broker's promises.

It was a period of turmoil for him and his family, with his wife, and two kids.

Ultimately, Momin's dreams of going to Malaysia were shattered as he failed to secure a ticket even on the last day of the deadline on 31 May.

"I took a Tk6 lakh loan at high interest from NGOs. How can I return home now? I can't show people my face. I heard that people are crowding at my home after knowing that I could not go abroad," Mominul lamented to TBS, his voice filled with tears.

Hundreds of aspiring migrant workers, who were unable to leave for Malaysia due to mismanagement by syndicated recruiting agencies, now find themselves wandering between agencies and brokers with pressing questions: "Can't we go to Malaysia? If not, when will we get our money back?"

On Friday, hundreds of these men gathered at Dhaka airport as recruiting agencies failed to provide their tickets within the deadline set by the Malaysian government, which expired on that day.

While the Malaysian government has not yet announced an extension of the deadline, some agencies are assuring the workers that arrangements will be made for them to go abroad within a week. Moreover, if they are unable to facilitate their departure, they are promising to refund the workers' money.

Shahadat Hossain, managing director of Al Hera Overseas, said, "A total of 25 workers from our agency were unable to travel to Malaysia. I have reached out to the Malaysian companies they were supposed to join, and they indicated that the Malaysian government might take steps to assist workers with e-visas who are unable to travel."

He further added that if any worker is unable to proceed, their money will be refunded through the respective broker.

There are also allegations that despite the government's set immigration fee for Malaysia being Tk79,000, recruiting agencies are charging workers up to Tk7 lakh.

State Minister of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury said an investigation committee will be formed to look into the incidents of distress caused to migrants heading to Malaysia and measures will be taken against those responsible.

"Legal actions will be taken against those found guilty," he said during an interview with a private television channel on Saturday.

"We had asked the agencies to provide a list of those going to Malaysia by 15 April, but they failed to give any list," he added

Only brokers to blame? 

Another Malaysia-bound worker Shaheen Hossain from Sherpur said he paid Tk5.5 lakh to recruiting agency Shahjalal Air International through brokers to go to Malaysia.

Shaheen Hossain. Photo: TBS

Shaheen, a grocer by profession, said due to rising inflation, he decided to sell his shop and go to Malaysia.

"I sold the shop and took loans from various relatives and NGOs and handed it over to brokers. Now I am moving from door to door to brokers and recruiting agencies.

"I have no way to go back home or stay in Dhaka. I don't see any other option but to die," Shaheen said.

Shahjalal Hossain Sazzad, owner of Shahjalal Air International, said, "About 60 to 100 workers from my agency could not go. The main reason is that although they handed over all the money to the brokers, the brokers did not hand over ticket money and other expenses to us on time.

"As a result, even though many workers have e-visas, I could not get tickets for them in advance. I tried at the last moment but I could not get the tickets."

Ali Haider Chowdhury, secretary general of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), told TBS that Baira and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Foreign Employment are working together for the workers who could not go to Malaysia.

"Moreover, if any worker couldn't go due to the negligence of any agency, Baira will take appropriate action against them," he said.

A syndicate of 100 recruiting agencies is currently sending workers to Malaysia.

How many could not fly?

Though the agencies' syndicate and the expat ministry blamed each other for not arranging the timely flights for Malaysia bound workers, none of those bodies provide the number of workers who could not fly to the media.

Ali Haider Chowdhury, secretary general of Baira said on Saturday (1 June), "We are yet to get the final numbers as our office is closed today. We will be able to say those tomorrow."

He said the number could be around 3,000-4,000.

According to sector insiders, the deadline set by Malaysian authorities has left over 10,000 aspiring migrants still waiting for flights.

Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, one of the syndicate members and former secretary-general of the Baira, estimates that between 10,000 and 15,000 workers could not fly as of 30 May.

No action taken against agencies

Industry insiders say the labour market of Bangladesh in Malaysia has been closed three times in the past 15 years. Each time, allegations of irregularities, corruption, and bribery were raised against syndicated recruiting agencies involved in sending workers, yet no action was taken.

Nearly 4.50 lakh Bangladeshi workers went to Malaysia between August 2022 and April this year, according to Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training data.

The Southeast Asian country reopened its labour market for Bangladesh in 2022 following a four-year suspension. Now the market has become closed again from Friday for the irregularities of syndicate.

UN Human Rights chief to visit Malaysia

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, will be conducting a series of visits in Malaysia regarding migrant workers and human rights issues.

Sources from Kuala Lumpur informed The Business Standard that the labour rights situation of vulnerable foreign workers from 14 source countries in Malaysia, including Bangladesh, may be addressed.

Human rights defenders have already provided various briefs to him about the recent joblessness of migrant workers in Malaysia, sources say.

Organisations working on labour rights, including the United Nations, have expressed concern that among around 4.5 lakh Bangladeshi workers who went to Malaysia, several thousand until April this year have not found jobs.