Bangladesh and Malaysia are preparing to restart recruitment, the process of finding and hiring workers. Their system has opened and closed repeatedly over more than three decades, while workers have faced high fees and unfair treatment. On August 30, 2026, a Bangladeshi official announced that Malaysia would hire around 200,000 workers within six months. Two days later, Malaysia clarified that this figure was not an official government position, creating uncertainty about the size and timing of the plan.
Malaysia has also agreed in principle to accept 10,000 workers without requiring them to pay migration costs. However, as of September 30, the final costs, departure dates, and full recruitment procedure remained unsettled. Officials warned workers not to pay money, take medical examinations, or hand over passports before receiving formal instructions.
These warnings come after earlier recruitment problems left workers and families in debt. Some families borrowed money to cover the cost of seeking jobs abroad. The latest effort to reopen recruitment has therefore renewed concerns about whether workers will face lower costs and better protection.
