BOESL shortlists 112 workers for zero-cost jobs in Malaysia

A total of 112 male workers are set to be recruited in the first phase of the government's initiative to send 10,000 Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia without any migration costs.

The workers will be employed by DHL Supply Chain (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) Managing Director Mohammad Rashedul Haque announced at a press conference at Probashi Kallyan Bhaban in Dhaka on Thursday.

In a written statement, Rashedul said Malaysia is Bangladesh's second-largest overseas labour market. The government plans to send 10,000 workers through BOESL entirely free of cost, depending on demand letters received from Malaysian employers.

Responding to a question, he said BOESL had so far received 568 demand letters against the target of 10,000 workers. Recruitment will take place in phases once the demand letters are attested by the Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia.

Outlining the first phase, Rashedul said BOESL received a demand letter from DHL Supply Chain on 2 November and published the recruitment notice online on 5 November. A total of 4,029 applications were submitted between 6 and 8 November.

To ensure transparency and equal opportunities, an automated online system shortlisted 300 applicants on 8 November for two positions: 200 operations assistants and 100 technically skilled workers.

A nine-member delegation from Malaysia has arrived in Dhaka to select the final 112 candidates from the shortlisted applicants. The delegation will conduct practical tests and interviews over four days, from Thursday until 15 November.

Rashedul said BOESL would have no involvement in the final selection process, adding that candidates chosen by the employer would be considered final.

He also said the same automated recruitment system, without manual intervention, would be used for future recruitment by other companies.

Reaffirming the government's zero-cost commitment, the BOESL managing director said the Malaysian employer would bear all migration expenses prescribed by the government.

"BOESL will not collect any migration cost or service charge from either the recruiting company or the workers for their employment in Malaysia. Zero means zero," he said.

Warning against financial irregularities, Rashedul said three people had recently been arrested and sentenced by a mobile court following a raid at the Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Centre (BKTTC) over alleged irregularities.

He warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone from BOESL, or any broker or middleman, found collecting money under the zero-cost recruitment programme.

He also advised applicants not to engage in financial transactions with brokers or unauthorised individuals.

The initiative aims to ensure that financially disadvantaged but eligible and qualified candidates are not denied overseas employment opportunities because of their inability to afford migration expenses, he added.