Foreign worker recruitment must be based on needs, not business interests, says ministry
Malaysia and Bangladesh have agreed to strengthen the technical coordination mechanism for labour management through a joint working group.
KUALA LUMPUR : The recruitment of foreign workers into Malaysia must be based on actual sectoral needs and demands, not driven by business interests or profit-making motives, human resources minister Steven Sim said today.
In a statement issued by the ministry, Sim said its approach aligned with efforts to ensure a more transparent, ethical, and jointly responsible labour management system.
The statement followed Sim's courtesy meeting yesterday with Asif Nazrul, adviser to Bangladesh's ministry of expatriates' welfare and overseas employment, and Lutfey Siddiqi, Bangladesh's special envoy for international affairs.
The statement said that during the meeting, Malaysia and Bangladesh agreed to strengthen the technical coordination mechanism for labour management through a joint working group (JWG).
'This step is crucial to ensure that issues can be addressed in a timely manner, based on mutual understanding and shared responsibility. The next JWG meeting is scheduled to take place on May 21 and 22 in Dhaka,' it added
In the meeting, which aimed to strengthen the commitment of both countries to improving governance in labour management, the human resources ministry said Malaysia also shared its long-term strategy to reduce dependence on foreign workers.
To that end, the ministry said the government was in the process of implementing a multi-tier levy system which would not only encourage the hiring of local workers but also help build a more sustainable and competitive labour market.
'The minister noted that both countries are now led by reformist governments with a political will to carry out comprehensive reforms in cross-border labour management.
'This presents an important opportunity to reset the existing system, to become more accountable, transparent, and fair to workers,' the statement said.
It said Malaysia also expressed its appreciation to the Bangladesh government for recognising its efforts to tackle abuse and misconduct in labour management processes.
'During the meeting, Bangladesh also confirmed that Malaysia was not involved in any of the alleged misconduct previously raised, and expressed its support for Malaysia's firm and principled stance on the issue of human trafficking.
'This visit reflects the shared commitment of Malaysia and Bangladesh to strengthen cross-border labour governance based on the principles of integrity, human rights, and universal well-being,' it said.
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