‘Contact me if you face any trouble’

Asif Nazrul, adviser for law and expatriates' welfare ministries, has given his contact information to some Bangladeshis working in Malaysia, urging them to contact him if they face any trouble.

He was talking to the migrants during a visit to Mediceram, a hand gloves company in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, yesterday.

He requested the Bangladeshi workers to resolve any problems through discussion instead of doing anything that could be harmful to them and the company.

"Please directly communicate with me," he told the migrants, asking them to collect his phone number and email ID from his Private Secretary Sarwoer Alam.

Nazrul is visiting Malaysia and is scheduled to hold meetings with Malaysian Human Resources Minister Steven Sim and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in Putrajaya today.

The Bangladeshis employed by Mediceram said nearly 200 of them were recruited in 2018 and 2023, but they were underpaid and their payments were irregular.

"This prompted us to hold demonstrations, and report to the labour department and even to our high commission, but nothing happened," a migrant told this correspondent from Malaysia yesterday.

Having spent Tk 4-5 lakh on recruitment, the migrants were indebted and frustrated. They then communicated with a migrants' rights group and demanded repayment of the recruitment fees.

At one point in time, Mediceram agreed to repay the recruitment fees, 22,500 Malaysian Ringgit (RM) each, since April in 12 instalments.

"We want the amount in one instalment. We have been in debt for more than two years. Unless we are repaid the recruitment fees, we will be in trouble," the worker said, requesting anonymity.

Addressing the workers, Nazrul said he knew that the migrants were facing various problems, including delay in payments, while they were worried over a delay in work visa extension.

"Some of you also face trouble in getting work. Unfortunately, some die here, and it is difficult to send the body back home. You also remain in fear of raids," he said.

The adviser said he spoke to the employer, who was trying to resolve the problems and repay the recruitment fees.

"You have to do certain things. Always resolve problems through discussions. Don't do anything harmful to you and the employer," he said.

Referring to the political changeover and the corruption during the Awami League regime, Nazrul said, "You know what happened in Bangladesh in the past. The situation was unimaginable. Expatriates' money was kept in thieves' bank.

"There were thieves in the ministry as well. We are trying to retrieve Tk 1,200 crore. From now on, no money of the expatriates will be kept in the private bank," he said, adding that the interim government is trying to improve the services for the migrants.

He recognised the contribution of the migrants, saying the remittance they send is of utmost importance for the economy of Bangladesh.

Md Sumon, a migrant working for Mediceram, in his speech described the troubles they faced over the last two years.

"Now, we are all united. Initially, we went to the high commission but got no response. Today, we are happy that you've pledged to be by our side. We have strong faith in you," he said.

There are some 9 lakh Bangladeshis working in the Southeast Asian country, according to the Malaysian authorities. Rights groups say a substantial number of migrants there are undocumented and are jobless, underpaid or unpaid.

The Malaysian labour market has remained closed for Bangladeshis since May 31 last year after serious allegations of irregularities relating to a syndicate of 101 recruiting agencies surfaced.

"We will try to have the labour market reopened and request the Malaysian authorities to regularise the undocumented migrants," said an official of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.