Minister: Foreign worker hiring freeze won’t affect Bangladesh MoU

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot (right) said the freeze on foreign worker recruitment did not invalidate the MoU Malaysia had signed with Bangladesh. — Bernama pic


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — Putrajaya’s suspension of foreign worker intakes does not invalidate the memorandum of understanding that Malaysia signed with Bangladesh, the Human Resources Ministry said.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot also welcomed yesterday’s announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on the moratorium, saying he appreciated the government’s prioritisation of local workers.
“However, this announcement does not affect the validity of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the government of Bangladesh.
“Further details on the decision to freeze foreign workers recruitment are to be announced by the government,” Riot said in a statement.
Zahid’s announcement yesterday on the hiring freeze of all foreign workers came just a day after Putrajaya signed a memorandum of understanding with Dhaka Thursday to recruit some of Bangladesh’s 1.5 million labourers available.
The moratorium had further complicated the issue as it was initially reported that Malaysia would bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers. Riot then clarified yesterday that the figure referred to Bangladesh’s overall labour pool for 139 countries, not the planned intake for Malaysia specifically.
Reports of the planned 1.5 million-strong Bangladeshi labourer intake had sparked xenophobic responses from some Malaysians, including some local NGOs that claimed the entry of such foreign workers would lead to rape, terrorism and the spread of diseases.