‘Job scam’: 33 Bangladeshis sue Malaysian firm, govt for Tk 4.8cr

Thirty-three Bangladeshi workers have sued a recruitment firm and relevant government officials and departments in Malaysia, seeking RM1.72 million, or Tk 4.8 crore, in compensation over allegations of employment fraud.

The case was filed with the High Court in the Malaysian city of Shah Alam on March 12. Tenaganita, a local rights organisation, made the matter public on Saturday.

Recruitment company Meranti Binamas Sdn Bhd, the secretary-general of the human resources ministry, the director-general of the immigration department and the government department that oversees and regulates public servants have been named in the suit as defendants.

Besides the compensation, the workers also seek a declaration stating that they were victims of human trafficking and job scams and that the authorities were negligent and a court order to prevent their detention by the immigration department pending the disposal of the suit.

According to the statement of claim, Meranti Binamas brought the workers to Malaysia after promising them jobs as construction workers. The Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia confirmed the authenticity of the job offers.

They were promised a minimum monthly salary of RM1,500, or Tk 60,000, with overtime opportunities. But they were asked to pay RM25,000, or over Tk 7 lakh each for quota approvals, levies, temporary work passes, health checks, and commissions for the job agents.

The workers realised only later that it was the responsibility of the employer to pay all these expenses.

They arrived in Malaysia in batches between June and October 2023.

The workers were asked to hand over their travel documents and passports before being housed in dormitories in Kuala Lumpur.

They later learnt that the job offers were fake and they had to remain in the dorms, where they were given only basic necessities such as raw food to cook for themselves.

Eventually, the workers lodged a complaint with the migrant workers' rights group Tenaganita, which led to an investigation by the labour department.