Several hundred aspiring migrant workers who missed the opportunity to travel to Malaysia in 2024 demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment on Eskaton Garden Road in Dhaka today (15 November), demanding priority in the upcoming recruitment process.
Carrying placards and chanting slogans, the protesters called on the government to ensure that those who were previously unable to migrate despite completing the required formalities are given priority when recruitment resumes.
According to official figures, 16,970 Bangladeshi workers could not travel to Malaysia before the 31 May 2024 deadline despite holding valid visas and emigration clearances.
Although several hundred workers have since managed to migrate, thousands remain stranded, according to the protesters.
The demonstration comes as Bangladesh and Malaysia have recently agreed to reopen the Malaysian labour market, raising hopes among aspiring migrant workers.
Under a government initiative, Bangladesh plans to begin sending workers to Malaysia before December, initially targeting 10,000 workers for recruitment without migration costs. The first phase will involve 112 male workers.
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