Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday promised enhanced protections for Bangladeshi migrant workers, addressing long-standing labor abuses affecting the largest foreign workforce in the Southeast Asian nation. The pledge came during a joint press conference with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who is on his first foreign trip since taking office in February.
Scope of the Issue
Approximately 800,000 Bangladeshis work in Malaysia, constituting about one-third of the country's migrant labor force. Many have suffered from unpaid wages and recruitment scams, with hefty fees leaving numerous job seekers stranded. Anwar described “human resources cooperation, particularly the workers” as “critical for our survival.” He stated, “This continued use of workers being exploited, ill-treated... purely for personal or company gains cannot be tolerated.”
Call for Transparency
Rahman urged that recruitment processes be made “transparent, fair and affordable” and called for a reduction in the number of intermediaries. His visit marks a significant step in bilateral ties, focusing on labor reforms and economic cooperation.
UN Concerns
Late last year, UN human rights experts warned of “continued exploitation, deception, and deepening debt bondage” facing Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia. In a statement from Geneva, they urged both governments “to intensify their efforts to ensure that migrant workers are not criminalized or re-victimized, and that fraudulent recruitment agencies and other responsible actors are held accountable.”
Rahman's China Visit
Rahman is set to depart later on Monday for China, where trade and infrastructure projects will be on the agenda, according to Bangladeshi foreign ministry officials. His inaugural trip abroad bypasses neighboring India, with whom relations have been strained since a 2024 uprising toppled the government of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, an ally of New Delhi. Ties improved after Rahman won elections and took over in February from the interim administration that had led the country of 170 million people since Hasina’s ouster. However, frictions remain. Hasina has been in hiding in India since fleeing the revolution, and Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition. India has long been wary of neighboring China’s regional clout, and the world’s two most populous countries compete for influence in South Asia.
