The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry Sunday said adverse impact may be cast on Bangladesh's labour market in Malaysia due to unpleasant behavior by few Bangladeshi workers there.

"Working freestyle at other place after taking back passport from employers is not consistent with labour laws of Malaysia. Illegal demands raised by these few workers are not acceptable considering interest of all Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia as well as overall national interest," an official release said.

The release said a significant amount of remittance was sent to Bangladesh in 2007 from Malaysia, a biggest labour market for the country. So far 2,36,601 Bangladeshi workers went to Malaysia last year.

It said amidst the large number of workers sent to Malaysian in so short period of time, a small number of unskilled workers also went to Malaysia with vocational jobs.

The release said due to lack of prior experience, those unskilled workers could not adjust with their working atmosphere, resulting in causing disputes with their employers.

Some 2,000 to 3,000 workers out of 3,59,000 informed the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur of their problems. Of these workers, 70-80 percent workers were sent back to their workplaces following fruitful discussion with recruiters and concerned Malaysian authorities through the Bangladesh High Commission. Rest of the workers did not show interest in going back to their workplaces despite assurance of providing all existing facilities by employers. Rather, they have been creating pressure on employers to give their passports back through the Bangladesh High Commission. They are also using the High Commission premises as their agitation ground.

The release cautioned that legal action will be taken against these workers after discussion between the Bangladesh High Commission and the Malaysian Works Department, Immigration and law enforcing agencies.