Bangladesh urges Malaysia to ease labour hiring curbs amid exploitation concerns

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has requested that Malaysia reopen its labor market to more Bangladeshi workers. This plea was made during talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Monday, during Rahman's first foreign visit since taking office. Rahman also raised concerns about undocumented workers and the potential repatriation of detained Bangladeshis. However, migrant rights groups have cautioned that both governments must first address ongoing issues of recruitment abuse, debt, and stranded workers before expanding the labor market. The Bangladeshi leader's visit aimed to broaden bilateral ties between the two nations.