The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has fixed the medical test fee for workers seeking jobs in Malaysia at 8,000 taka per person and said no centre may charge more.

A notice issued from the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment said today (Oct 30).

In the notice, the ministry asked workers not to pay more than the set amount for medical tests under any circumstances. It also warned them not to deal with brokers or intermediaries for the tests.

The ministry said no medical centre will work under any particular recruiting agency. Workers selected for Malaysia can have their health checks at any approved medical centre, it added.

If an agency has issued a medical slip but the worker decides to go through another agency, the first agency must send the medical report without delay, the notice said. It added that no objection from the slip issuer would be accepted in such cases.

The ministry asked workers and others to report immediately any centre that demands more than 8,000 taka or harasses or delays applicants by email to secretary@probashi.gov.bd. It also said issuing a MIGRAMS slip carries no fee.

The ministry said it would regularly monitor and inspect the medical centres, and that any irregularity would bring strict legal action against the centre concerned.

It asked workers, recruiting agencies, and medical centres to follow the instructions and called on everyone involved to play their part in orderly overseas employment.

The ministry has previously said health checks for Malaysia-bound workers would begin on October 31, according to Bangladeshi media reports.