The Bangladesh High Commission has been accused by Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan of having acted irresponsibly in setting up the employment portal “Chakrir Khoj”, The Star reported.

Saravanan, who was shocked and appalled with the move made by the high commission, said the portal is in direct conflict with his ministry’s MyFutureJobs employment portal and it violates the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981 (Act 246).

The act allows for the recruitment of foreign workers to be carried out by private employment agencies, licensed by the Department of Labour.

Saravanan said his ministry was never consulted on the setting up of the Chakrir Khoj, launched on April 8, which claims it is to also assist undocumented Bangladeshis already in the country under Putrajaya’s workers’ recalibration programme.

He said the portal and the action by the high commission not only undermines Malaysia’s efforts to manage its foreign workers, it could jeopardise the more than 400 foreign worker agencies in the country and also lead to an influx of illegal Bangladeshi workers.

“It is unreasonable on the part of the High Commission to take such action, which goes against the roles and responsibilities of a foreign diplomatic mission,” The Star quoted him as saying.

Saravanan said the matter is serious as it could mislead and create confusion to the public.

“It is inappropriate for the Bangladesh High Commission to launch the said employment portal in Malaysia, which is seen as undermining the government’s plans to manage the actual demand of foreign labour in the country,” Saravanan said.

Meanwhile, Penang Deputy Chief Minister P. Ramasamay said the Bangladesh High Commission should not be a nuisance in this country.

“It should not have advertised about job opportunities in Malaysia to its citizen in the job portal.

“If there were opportunities for foreign workers, particularly from Bangladesh, then the mission should have cleared the job advertisement with the Ministry Of Human Resources but it failed to do.

“This is why Saravanan is upset to the extent that he burst out,” he said in a statement today.

He said Saravanan might complain of foreign workers and the lack of consultation on the part of foreign missions before advertising job opportunities in Malaysia.

“But he as minister should be equally aware that there is hardly any systematic approach on the part of the government to reduce dependence on foreign workers.

“Why is it that Malaysia, with a population of more than 32 million and half of it being workers, is being forced to depend on foreign workers?” he asked.

He said too much dependence on foreign workers will invariably delay the country’s economic and technological transformation. – April 16, 2021.