The government has fixed Tk 154,000 as the maximum migration cost for sending Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia, warning that strict legal action will be taken against any individual or agency found charging additional money or engaging in irregularities.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury disclosed the decision in response to a supplementary question during the fifth day of the fourth session of the 13th National Parliament on Sunday.
During the question-and-answer session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal, MP Atikur Rahman Mujahid raised allegations that workers were being charged as much as Tk 700,000 to Tk 800,000 in the name of recruitment for Malaysia.
He proposed forming a separate parliamentary committee to monitor recruitment costs and ensure that workers could migrate at the government-fixed rate. He also wanted to know when medical examinations and the process of sending workers to Malaysia would begin.
In reply, the minister said the maximum migration cost had been finalised at Tk 154,000, leaving no scope for collecting additional money beyond the prescribed amount.
He warned that anyone found violating the fixed rate would face legal action in accordance with the law.
The minister also said a list of designated medical examination centres for Malaysia-bound workers would be published on Monday. If everything goes as planned, the formal process of sending workers to Malaysia is expected to begin by the end of next week, he added.
Meanwhile, responding to a written question from reserved-seat MP Rehana Akter Ranu during the session, the minister said the government had adopted a tough stance against unscrupulous recruiting agencies.
He said the government was regularly investigating complaints of overseas workers being denied jobs as promised, failing to receive work permits or residence permits (iqamas), not receiving salaries and benefits stipulated in their contracts, and falling victim to recruitment fraud.
The minister further informed Parliament that the licences of 56 recruiting agencies had recently been revoked over various irregularities and fraud after offences were established under the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013.
He assured Parliament that government surveillance and legal action against unscrupulous recruiting agencies would continue to protect the interests of migrant workers and ensure transparency in the overseas recruitment process.
