An investigation into the high recruitment fees and debt burdens faced by Bangladeshi workers migrating to Malaysia for low-wage employment.
Focusing on Bangladesh–Malaysia labor migration, this report exposes how excessive recruitment costs push nearly all surveyed workers into debt, creating systemic vulnerability to exploitation and forced labor. Drawing from hundreds of worker interviews, it finds that Bangladeshi migrants pay around $5,000 in fees—often through multiple loans—to access low-wage jobs. The study highlights the urgent need for transparency, regulation of recruitment intermediaries, and employer accountability in covering recruitment costs. It provides actionable insights for governments, civil society, and industry to advance ethical recruitment and worker protection.
Bangladesh, Malaysia
