After a prolonged closure, the government has finally announced the start of recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for Malaysia and urged those interested to apply through approved recruiting agencies.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment made the announcement in a press release on Thursday.

It said Malaysia has agreed in principle to recruit 10,000 Bangladeshi workers at zero cost following a special request from the Bangladesh government, while 338 recruiting and processing agencies have been approved to facilitate recruitment under the reopened labour market.

The ministry said the initiative aims to ensure a transparent, competitive and inclusive recruitment process while protecting workers’ interests.

Malaysian authorities have agreed to enlist Bangladesh’s state-run Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), 25 private processing or service agencies and 312 recruiting agencies based on Malaysia’s prescribed eligibility criteria, it said.

The approved recruiting agencies will be able to find employers in Malaysia, collect job orders or demands, select workers in Bangladesh and conduct recruitment activities in accordance with the rules.

The ministry said the government has prioritised reopening and expanding overseas labour markets that had been closed or restricted, with Malaysia given particular attention.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chose Malaysia for his first official foreign visit after taking office and discussed reopening the country’s labour market for Bangladeshi workers with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, the release said.

The government subsequently continued discussions with Malaysian authorities, respecting Malaysia’s laws and eligibility requirements while seeking to expand participation by eligible Bangladeshi recruiting agencies.

Under the recruitment process, approved agencies will collect job orders and select workers in compliance with Bangladeshi laws. BOESL and the 25 approved processing or service agencies will assist with administrative procedures in Malaysia, including calling visas, e-visas and other required formalities.

After completing the necessary processing, the recruiting agencies concerned will proceed with the remaining formalities in Bangladesh.

Each approved recruiting agency will be able to obtain Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) clearance for its own workers under its own recruiting licence.

The processing agencies will be able to issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) to facilitate the clearance process.

The ministry said the system will preserve the responsibilities, accountability and operational independence of individual recruiting agencies.

It also urged recruiting agencies to create more employment opportunities while complying with national laws and safeguarding workers from excessive recruitment costs.

On medical examinations, the ministry said finalising the list of approved medical centres remained an ongoing joint responsibility of Bangladesh and Malaysia under the existing memorandum of understanding.

To expedite the reopening of the labour market, Bangladesh has requested changes to the existing list.

Malaysia has decided to begin operations through the medical centres remaining on its official website after excluding controversial centres associated with irregularities and alleged links to the previous authoritarian regime, following Bangladesh’s request, the release said.

A joint delegation from Malaysia’s health, human resources and home affairs ministries will visit Bangladesh to inspect medical centres and prepare a comprehensive list under the new guidelines.

The ministry said the centres currently listed on Malaysia’s website are subject to regular scrutiny by the relevant Bangladeshi authorities and must comply with local regulations. Action will be taken against centres found involved in irregularities, including suspension of their operations.

Additional medical centres may be included in the approved list later, with updates to be published on the relevant website and announced by the ministry.

The ministry also said no single medical centre will be given exclusive control over health examinations, aiming to ensure accessible and transparent services without a monopoly.

The government expressed gratitude to the prime ministers of Bangladesh and Malaysia, Malaysia’s human resources ministry and other relevant authorities for their cooperation in reopening the labour market.

The ministry said the broader objective is to create more jobs, widen participation by eligible agencies, improve transparency and competition in recruitment, and establish a sustainable labour market for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.