After a year-long closure, Malaysia has reopened its labour market to Bangladeshi workers, with 7,926 set to join in the first phase, announced Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul.

Currently on a visit to Malaysia, Nazrul shared the breakthrough in a video message on his verified Facebook account today, following high-level meetings with Malaysian officials, including the Home Minister and Human Resources Minister.

Nazrul, who arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday leading a three-member delegation, highlighted the progress made during discussions.

“Last year, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, a personal friend of our Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, promised to allow 17,000 Bangladeshi workers – previously unable to migrate – to come here,” he said.

From that cohort, Malaysia has finalised a first batch of 7,926 workers, with processes underway for their swift deployment. “They’ll start working here very soon,” Nazrul confirmed.

Looking ahead, Malaysia plans to recruit 100,000 to 150,000 foreign workers in the coming months, and Bangladesh has secured top priority.

“The interim Human Resources Minister assured us of this,” Nazrul stated, adding that he advocated for opening recruitment to all Bangladeshi agencies to ensure broader opportunities – a proposal Malaysia is considering.

Additionally, Nazrul secured a commitment to shift Bangladeshi workers from single-entry to multiple-entry visas, aligning their privileges with other nationalities. “The minister instructed immediate action on this,” he noted.

On the issue of irregular workers, Nazrul sought regularization for those affected by expired visas or employer negligence.

While Malaysia indicated that expired visa cases couldn’t be legalized, they agreed to explore exceptions for employer-related issues.

Discussions also opened doors for skilled Bangladeshi workers, such as security guards, caregivers, and nurses, with Malaysia showing keen interest. “We’re optimistic about continued talks,” Nazrul said, crediting Chief Adviser Yunus’s direct oversight for guiding these efforts.

This development marks a significant step in strengthening Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur ties, promising economic upliftment for thousands of Bangladeshi families.

As the first batch prepares to depart, the focus now shifts to ensuring fair recruitment and sustainable opportunities for future workers.