Bangladesh and Malaysia want to restart hiring Bangladeshi workers. In August 2026, a Bangladesh official said Malaysia would hire about 200,000 people over six months. Two days later, Malaysia said this number was not an official government plan. Malaysia agreed in principle to take 10,000 workers without making them pay to go.
The countries have stopped and restarted hiring for over 30 years. High fees and unfair treatment of workers remain concerns. Many workers borrow money to pay for jobs abroad.
By 30 September, the final costs, travel dates and steps were still unclear. Officials warned workers to wait for official instructions. They should not pay money, have medical checks or give anyone their passports yet.
