Govt to break monopoly on hiring of Bangladeshi workers

KUALA LUMPUR: The government wants to open the recruitment of workers to all agencies in Bangladesh to break the monopoly and reduce processing fees.

“We are discussing with the Bangladeshi government on the matter,” Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said after chairing a special committee meeting on foreign workers’ management in Parliament yesterday.

“There are only 10 agencies (allowed) to process prospective Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia. This is a form of monopoly. The processing fee (for each worker) can go up to RM20,000.

“So we want to expand the business to all agents (in Bangladesh) so that there will be competition and lower processing fees.”

He said a streamlined system would be used to facilitate the hiring of Bangladeshi and Nepali foreign workers, as well as refunds.

“An independent task force on the matter will be formed and chaired by someone who has held high positions in the government, such as former judges and former chief secretaries.

“The committee will be supervised by the Labour Market Information and Analysis Institute.”

Responding to allegations by Nepali Times on Bestinet Sdn Bhd’s purported involvement in a fraud syndicate that had been victimising Nepali workers, Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed soon to resolve the issue.

“We are going to (sign) an MoU with them to solve the issue. The MoU has been approved by the Nepalis in principle.”

On another matter, Dr Mahathir said 3,407 Indian red identity card holders would get citizenship, as outlined in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto.

However, he said, issuing the MyKad would take time as several requirements needed to be met.

He said the MyKad would be issued upon application at the National Registration Department for red identity card holders aged 60 and above.

“There are certain conditions for those who apply for citizenship. If he is a red card holder, 60 years old and above, he will be given a blue card (MyKad). He has to fill a form at NRD. Nothing is easy with the government.”

For those under age 60, citizenship would be granted if one parent is Malaysian. The applicant must be Malaysian-born and pass a “simple” Bahasa Malaysia competency test.

“(This) test will only touch on simple use of the language. If they pass, we will accept them (as citizens). There will also be a requirement for them to be based in Malaysia for at least 12 years, in which they have resided in the country for 10 years, according to the Federal Constitution.

“On parents whose marriage is yet to be registered, these are things we need to discuss. But some are clear cut, as stated in the law.

“Nowadays, we have (to look into) LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) matters, men marrying men, women marrying women, and they have children too. We are facing new biological changes and things.”