Sending Workforce to Malaysia: ‘Syndicate’ allegations resurface

The labour market for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia is reopening. In the midst of this process, the old syndicate controversy has come back into discussion. The publication of the names of 25 agencies out of around 2,000 has upset other agencies. While the list includes members of the previous syndicate circle, as well as agencies linked to the Awami League and organisations affiliated with the current ruling party, many experienced and large recruiting agencies have been left out. This has fuelled debate, with rumours circulating about a new syndicate.

According to the government, thanks to the successful efforts of the current administration, the door for Bangladeshi employment in Malaysia is about to open shortly. At the government's special request, Malaysian authorities have agreed in principle to take 10,000 workers completely free of cost (zero cost). The first batch of these workers, who will bear no migration expenses including airfare, will be sent to Malaysia through the government agency BOESL (Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited) on special chartered flights, marking the reopening of this labour market.

However, agencies left out and migration observers have raised questions about why, after allegations of irregularities in the previous system, such a limited list is being used again. Many are also asking what criteria were used to prepare the list and why other legitimate agencies were not given a chance. They argue that this is not a syndicate‑free system but merely a tactic to repackage the old system in a new framework.

On 21 August, Malaysia’s online recruitment system, the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS), published the names of 25 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies. But after these names were made public, there was a strong reaction among manpower export agencies. Opposition parties such as Jamaat‑e‑Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), along with other political groups, have also condemned it as a ‘syndicate’.

Following the criticism and debate, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment issued a notice on Friday stating that Malaysia is allowing another 312 recruiting agencies from the country to send workers as associate recruitment agencies. In addition, BOESL will also have the opportunity to work in this process. In the first phase, 10,000 workers will go to Malaysia at no cost.

However, a section of BAIRA (Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies) has called this ‘whitewashing’. They say that simply publishing 312 names without giving clear answers to all questions does not mean the market is free of syndicates. Rather, the 25 agencies will retain overall control, and the others will work as sub‑agents under them.

Fakhrul Islam, former joint secretary‑general of BAIRA, told the media: ‘According to the government statement, the task of screening agencies was done by a high‑level joint committee comprising Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Anti‑Corruption Commission, and law enforcement agencies. It is very surprising how so many ministries could list these 25 agencies at any point. Some of these agencies have not even sent a single worker.’

Agencies in the discussion: Representatives of the aggrieved agencies allege that an influential group is actively behind the syndicate of these 25 agencies, just as before. They claim that this syndicate is being controlled by Bangladeshi businessman Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Noor and his associate in Bangladesh, Ruhul Amin Swapon, using the online FWCMS system for sending workers to Malaysia as a tool.

Investigations reveal that among the 25 recruiting agencies is Mangroup Care Link. Its managing partner is Atiqur Rahman Biswas, a vice‑president of the Jubo Dal, and his wife Sabiha Sultana is listed as a partner. Another agency, AI Supta Overseas, is owned by Farid Ahmed Majumdar, secretary‑general of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAB).