Malaysia to become second-largest job market for Bangladeshis

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

Bangladesh plans to recruit around 200,000 migrant workers for employment in Malaysia over the next six months, making it the second-largest destination for Bangladeshi expatriates after Saudi Arabia. This large-scale recruitment, starting in September with fee waivers and chartered flights, aims to reduce migration costs and formalize the status of existing workers, strengthening labor ties between the two countries.

Malaysia is poised to become the second-largest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, trailing only Saudi Arabia, according to officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. Over the next six months beginning in September, approximately 200,000 Bangladeshi workers are expected to be recruited for employment in Malaysia.

Saudi Arabia remains the primary destination for Bangladeshi expatriates, with nearly 3 million Bangladeshis living and working in the kingdom. The two countries have maintained labor cooperation since the 1970s, and the Bangladeshi workforce there contributes over $5 billion annually in remittances to their home country.

The announcement regarding the large-scale recruitment to Malaysia follows discussions between Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a visit to Kuala Lumpur in June. Following a recent meeting with Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shuhada Othman, Mir Shahe Alam, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, confirmed the recruitment numbers. Shahidul Islam Chowdhury, joint secretary in the ministry’s employment wing, also noted that Malaysia now ranks ahead of the United Arab Emirates as a destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers.

Currently, an estimated 1 million Bangladeshis reside in Malaysia, positioning the country as a significant labor market for Bangladeshis. While the UAE previously hosted more than 1 million Bangladeshi workers at the start of 2026, recent figures indicate a slowdown in migration there. According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training, the UAE issued around 14,500 visas to Bangladeshi workers during the first eight months of 2026, compared with approximately 275,000 visas issued by Saudi Arabia in the same timeframe.

The official recruitment process for Malaysia is set to commence in late September with an initial batch of 10,000 workers. These workers will benefit from a waiver of recruitment fees. The government plans to facilitate their travel on a special chartered flight operated by Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited, a state-owned entity. Dr. Zahid Ur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser, described this approach as setting a precedent by reducing migration costs to zero.

In addition to new recruitment, efforts are underway to register previously unregistered Bangladeshi migrant workers currently residing in Malaysia. This process is aimed at formalizing the status of workers and streamlining future labor relations between the two countries.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.