Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) spokesperson Mahdi Amin today said that Malaysia’s labour market would soon reopen for Bangladeshi workers.

He disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Bangladesh Secretariat here on his and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury’s recent visit to Malaysia.

Mahdi Amin, also Prime Minister’s adviser, said their bilateral visit stressed on making the process of sending Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia easier and faster. 

He noted that Bangladesh requested some relaxation of existing complex laws so that workers can access this major labour market more easily. 

The PMO spokesperson said that the issue of illegal workers currently residing in Malaysia was also discussed. The discussion focused on exploring possible solutions for them, he added.

Mahdi Amin further stated that emphasis was placed on sending trained workers, reducing costs of manpower export and breaking up syndicates to send workers at low cost.

He said Malaysia assured them that the country would review these issues and make a decision soon.

Noting the important progress on manpower export, Mahdi Amin said that during the visit, they held a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, which focused on facilitating the labor market there. 

The meeting emphasised on making the process of sending workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia easier and faster, he added.

At that time, Mahdi Amin said, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit Malaysia.

He said as a historic success of this bilateral visit, a joint statement was issued for the first time by the two countries. 

This statement, prepared under the direction of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, clearly reflects the issue of reducing migration costs and mutual cooperation, which is being considered a major ‘breakthrough’, the PMO spokesperson added.