Dhaka:Bangladesh and Malaysia should establish a binding bilateral labor agreement to govern migrant-worker recruitment and provide enforceable protections for workers, according to the Migrant Welfare Network (MWN) and Fortify Rights.
According to United News of Bangladesh, previous memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries have included safeguards for Bangladeshi migrant workers. However, workers continue to report excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, wage theft, passport confiscation, unsafe working conditions, and other abuses. A bilateral labor agreement would create binding obligations between the governments, offering a stronger framework to ensure worker protections are implemented.
Such an agreement must include measures against excessive recruitment fees and other abuses. Abdullah al Mamun, President of Migrant Welfare Network, highlighted the significant contributions of migrant workers to Bangladesh's economy, emphasizing the need to prevent exploitation. John Quinley, Director at Fortify Rights, stressed the importance of establishing effective protections before resuming formal migrant flows.
Malaysia halted the acceptance of new migrant workers from several countries in 2024. Since the BNP took office in February, Bangladeshi officials have made efforts to restart recruitment, including a visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Malaysia in June.
In December 2021, a MoU was signed between Bangladesh and Malaysia, replacing earlier agreements from 2003, 2012, and 2016, which were suspended due to labor abuse allegations. The 2021 MoU included protections such as requiring employers to cover airfare, housing, and health insurance, and providing annual leave, compensation for workplace injuries, and other benefits.
The Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs reports that over 800,000 Bangladeshis hold active work permits in Malaysia, making Bangladesh the largest source of migrant labor there. Migrant workers often work in hazardous sectors like construction and manufacturing.
Remittances from migrant workers are crucial for Bangladesh's economy, contributing significantly to foreign-exchange reserves. Between July 2025 and April 2026, Bangladesh received US$29.33 billion in remittances, a 19.5% increase from the previous year. In April 2026, remittances exceeded US$3 billion for the fifth consecutive month.
John Quinley pointed out that previous MoUs failed to protect labor rights and were marred by corruption, leading to suspensions. He emphasized the need for a legally binding agreement to prevent future abuses and corruption.