Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin said there is no room for extension to the entry deadline for Bangladeshi workers.
“No plan to extend the entry deadline for Bangladeshi workers, which expired on 31 May. It is no longer possible to accept the request for allowing entry of 17,000 Bangladeshi workers who have work permits,” said the Malaysian minister during a visit to Penang, Malaysia on Tuesday (4 May).
The Bangladesh government made a request to Malaysia for deadline extension after thousands of workers failed to make it to the East-Asian nation by 31 May as the recruiting agencies failed to provide them with air tickets.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin said the 31 May deadline was set taking into account a number of factors and the deadline was announced long ago.
“If the recruitment was so urgent, why didn't the recruiters take steps to bring them by the deadline,” questioned the Malaysian minister.
He said more than 20,000 foreign workers have arrived in Malaysia between 28 and 31 May, adding that the vacancy for foreign workers in the manufacturing, service and construction sectors have almost been filled up.
He said workers for the agricultural sector will be recruited from those who have work permits. No new application will be accepted, he added.
