Bangladesh has emerged as the largest source of low-skilled foreign workers in Malaysia, with over 446,000 nationals legally entering the country in the past two years.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that 49,353 Bangladeshi workers arrived in 2022 following the reopening of borders after the Covid-19 pandemic. The number surged to 397,548 in 2023 under the Foreign Worker Recruitment Relaxation Plan, a temporary measure aimed at speeding up and simplifying hiring for industries facing labour shortages.
As of June 30 this year, the Immigration Department recorded 803,332 active Bangladeshi Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) holders, accounting for 37% of all foreign workers in Malaysia, making Bangladesh the largest contributor to the country’s low-skilled migrant labour force.
Saifuddin also noted that 20,331 Bangladeshi workers were repatriated in 2022, followed by 23,065 in 2023. In addition, 790 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in 2022 and 2023 for overstaying their passes.
The figures were shared in a written reply to Hassan Abdul Karim (PH–Pasir Gudang), who inquired about the number of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.
