PETALING JAYA: A total of 49,353 Bangladeshi nationals entered Malaysia in 2022 after the reopening of borders post-COVID-19, while another 397,548 workers were recruited in 2023 under the government’s Foreign Worker Recruitment Relaxation Plan, the Home Ministry revealed.
In a written reply to the Parliament, the ministry said during the same period, 20,331 Bangladeshi workers were repatriated in 2022 and 23,065 in 2023 after their employers terminated contracts.
“As of June 30, the Immigration Department recorded 803,332 active Bangladeshi workers holding Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS), representing 37% of Malaysia’s total foreign workforce, making Bangladesh the largest source country for low-skilled labour in Malaysia,”the ministry added.
Meanwhile, enforcement data showed that 790 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in 2022 and 2023 for overstaying their permits and becoming undocumented migrants.
