MALAYSIA MAY RECONSIDER HIRING BANGLADESHI WORKERS IF ECONOMY IMPROVES

By P.Vijian

DHAKA, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will consider recruiting Bangladeshi
workers once the economy returns to its old trajectory, as demand for workers in
various sectors will surge.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Bernard Dompok said the main
reason for the freeze on foreign workers intake was due to the unfavourable
economic conditions at home.

"Malaysia, like the rest of the world, experienced (economic) difficulties
and growth was not conducive to take more workers. Once our economy is in good
condition, we would be able to recruit back, certainly in the plantation
sector," he told the media here Saturday.

As the global economy went into recession from 2008, Malaysia's economic
growth contracted as well, leading to a drop in demand for overseas workers.

In October 2007, the Malaysian cabinet decided to freeze the hiring of
Bangladeshi workers.

And last March, Malaysia cancelled the work visas of 55,000 Bangladeshi
workers as the domestic labour market cringed under recession.

But the move had irked traditional labour-supplying nations like Bangladesh,
which had nearly 400,000 of its nationals working in Malaysia in various
sectors ranging from plantation and construction to manufacturing.

The media in Bangladesh had also frequently harped on the issue.

"We have good relations with Bangladesh and Bangladeshi workers are
hardworking, we have no problems in hiring them in future," said Dompok.

There about 1.5 million foreign workers in Malaysia now.

Dompok is in Dhaka for the inaugural Malaysia-Bangladesh Palm Oil
Trade Fair and Seminar 2009 (POTS), jointly organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil
Council (MPOC) and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
--BERNAMA