Twenty-three entities voice anxieties about the lack of accountability for a Malaysian labour market syndicate
News Article: Bangladesh Civil Society Demands Accountability in Malaysian Labour Market
The Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM), an alliance of 23 migration-related organizations, has expressed deep concern over reports of individuals linked to a syndicate in the Malaysian labour market facing no charges and investigations against them being halted.
The alliance, which includes renowned organizations such as RMMRU, BRAC, WARBE Development Foundation, OKUP, Ain o Salish Kendra, Manusher Jonno Foundation, and several others, finds the situation deeply worrying and calls it a recurrence of past irregularities that led to the closure of the Malaysian labour market to Bangladeshi workers.
Dr Tasneem Siddiqui, the Chair of the BCSM, and Syed Saiful Haque, the Co-Chair, have demanded that the issue be given top priority during the chief adviser's 11-13 August visit to Malaysia. They believe that granting impunity to those involved in syndicates could lead to a recurrence of corruption and exploitation in the future.
The BCSM has called for those accused of past corruption to be reinvestigated and subjected to a judicial inquiry to ensure there is no scope for impunity. However, recent reports suggest that at Malaysia's request, the Bangladesh government has agreed to suspend the investigation against the syndicate.
This corruption, as reported in the government's economic white paper, media reports, and Anti-Corruption Commission complaints, amounted to several thousand crore taka. The BCSM fears that granting impunity to the accused could allow the old syndicate to become active again.
In 2017 and 2018, a 10-member syndicate operated in the labour market, creating widespread irregularities. No one was punished for those allegations either, the group said. Between 2022 and 2024, Bangladeshi workers bound for Malaysia were charged five to six times the government-set recruitment fee.
Several former MPs, including family members of a former lawmaker named AHM Mustafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal), are being cleared of allegations related to syndicate involvement in the Malaysian labour market. Effective measures are demanded to dismantle the syndicate and ensure justice for the victims of labour exploitation.
Civil societies often play a crucial role in advocating for the rights of migrant workers and pushing for accountability and legal action against those responsible for such abuses. In this case, the BCSM is engaging in advocacy efforts, pushing for legal action, and collaborating with international organizations to address transnational labor exploitation issues.
The BCSM's demands come at a time when labor exploitation is a significant issue globally, with many countries facing challenges related to human trafficking and labor rights violations. The group's efforts underscore the need for continued vigilance and action to protect migrant workers and ensure accountability for those who exploit them.
- The Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM) has expressed concerns about the lack of accountability in the Malaysian labour market, demanding a judicial inquiry into past corruption and the reinvestigation of those accused.
- As the issue of labor exploitation continues to be a significant concern globally, the BCSM's advocacy efforts for migrant workers' rights and justice against abuses align with general news, politics, and crime-and-justice topics.
