On Thursday, it was announced that Malaysia and Bangladesh have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to receive 1.5 million workers in stages over the next three years under the government-to-government (G2G) Plus System.
The MoU will allow Bangladeshi male and female workers to be brought into the service, construction, farming, plantation and manufacturing sectors.
According to a report in the Daily Star of Bangladesh, the workers will be paid a minimum wage of RM800 to RM900. Malaysian employers will pay for workers’ security deposits, levies, visa fees, and health and compensation insurance.
However, a surprise twist came on Friday when Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the Government has decided to suspend the recruitment of all foreign workers to Malaysia, including those from Bangladesh, The Star reported.
“We urge all employers to recruit local workers,” said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, after meeting Army personnel at Kem Muara Tuang here on Friday.
He added that the suspension would be in place while the Government reviewed the two-tier levy programme for foreign workers.
Whether or not the recruitment plan will pan out still remains to be seen.
