BACK FROM KUALA LUMPUR: Bangladeshi businesspeople in Malaysia are facing shortage of workers and terming legal embargo as barrier in importing workers from Bangladesh.
Mohammad Minhaz, a Bangladeshi who is successfully operating businesses in construction, metal engineering, furniture, hotel, garments and textiles sectors in Malaysia, currently facing severe worker shortage.
About one hundred Bangladeshis have been working in different wings of his organizations, but many establishments and jobs are now vacant as he cannot bring workers from Bangladesh in legal way.
Banglanews reporter had a talk with Md Minhaz at Prity Garment, one of his business concerns in Malaysia.
Md Minhaz said, “There is a shortage of some 45 to 60 workers in my organizations because I cannot import manpower from Bangladesh now due to legal barrier. So I have been carrying out my work hiring Malayans and Indians who are not dependable at all.”
“Bangladesh could have more remittances if I could import Bangladeshi workers. But now I have to pay workers from other countries,” he said adding “Bangladeshis are more skilled and sincere than any other nationals. If the Malayans or Indians make two pieces of clothes, the Bangladeshis could produce four pieces. But I have to pay from 2000 to 2800 Ringgits for these unskilled workers.”
Mentioning about 40 machines sitting idle due to the shortage of manpower, Minhaz informed banglanews that he has deposited 30 visas to bring manpower but still those are not being processed from Bangladesh.
He also said that importing manpower through legal ways is stopped only for Bangladeshis while the process is continuing for India, Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines.
However, manpower is coming through illegal ways in Malaysia, but businesspeople are facing hassle for these illegal workers.
Minhaz said that Bangladesh is a small country but has huge population. On the other hand, Malaysia is a large labor market and there are demands of Bangladeshi workers here.
But unfortunately India is grabbing the opportunities as Bangladesh is failing to hold the market due to legal embargo.
He informed there is scope of 40 workers in Prity Garments, but it is now operating with only 25 laborers.
Some 400 types of Malaysian attires including Jubba, Baju Kurung and scarves are being produced in this garment factory for both male and female. These are sent to his own showrooms or others shops. Even the outlets require manpower.
Recently Minhaz has rented a showroom at Alesto, where there is scope of employing Bangladeshis. Even at Prity Hotel there are shortages of employees. In the hotel, I need 20 people but it is now being run by 5 people only, Minhaj added.
He further said that Prity Fashions has two showrooms, but these are being run by only 15 people though they need 30 people. There is also shortage of workers at Prima Fashions.
Minhaz has constructed a mosque at Kepang Cafe area in Malaysia, where some 2500-3000 Bangladeshis are residing. The imam and even the muazzin of the mosque are Bangladeshis.
He is now away from the direct involvement in construction business. Now he is operating them through sub-contractors.
Minhaj urged the government to pave the legal way for Bangladeshis to work in different sectors in Malaysia.
BDST: 1455 HRS, OCT 23, 2014
