A genuine overseas job should be supported by documents that can be checked independently. A company logo, visa image, social-media post, or agent’s promise is not enough.
Recent cases involving irregular Malaysian work passes and false UAE notices show that even official-looking information can be misleading. Complete these ten checks before paying money or travelling.
1. Verify the recruiting agency
Confirm that the agency has a valid recruiting license. Check the legal name, license number, office address, and authorized representative through BMET or the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. Do not hand documents or money to an unknown sub-agent.
2. Confirm the Employer
Ask for the employer’s:
- Full legal name
- Registered address
- Official website and contact details
- Approved job demand
- Workplace location
- Job title and salary
Contact the employer through independently found details. Do not rely only on a number supplied by the recruiter.
3. Match the visa to the job
The visa or permit must authorize the promised work. A tourist, visit, pilgrimage, or short-stay visa is not a normal work permit. The employer’s name, occupation, and destination shown on the documents should match the employment offer.
4. Check the employer’s approval
For Malaysia, the employer normally obtains foreign-worker approval and applies for the Visa With Reference. Malaysian Immigration states that workers may enter only after the required approval and entry visa are issued. Ask for the approval reference. Then confirm it through an official system or authority where possible.
5. Read the Full Contract
The contract should clearly state:
- Basic salary
- Working hours and overtime
- Contract period
- Accommodation and food
- Transportation
- Deductions
- Probation
- Leave and medical benefits
- Termination and return arrangements
Do not sign a blank, incomplete, or untranslated contract.
6. Get a written cost schedule
Ask for an itemized list of every permitted cost before paying. Pay only through an authorized channel. Collect a receipt showing the amount, date, purpose, agency name, and payer’s name. BOESL has warned candidates not to pay commissions to agents or use unofficial payment channels for BOESL recruitment.
7. Verify medical and emigration clearance
Complete medical examinations only through approved centres. Confirm BMET registration, emigration clearance, pre-departure requirements, and any required skills assessment independently. A recruiter should not control the only source of information.
8. Do not trust screenshots alone
Malaysia investigated 1,306 Temporary Employment Visit Passes that were reportedly approved irregularly through the MyIMMs system. The Immigration Department later said the affected passes would be revoked. This shows why one online result should not be treated as complete proof. The employer, quota, contract, visa, and recruiter must all match.
9. Keep Copies of Everything
Save digital and printed copies of:
- Passport and national identity documents
- Job offer and contract
- Visa and work permit
- Employer approval
- Medical certificate
- Payment receipts
- BMET clearance
- Recruiter communication
- Emergency contacts
Give copies to a trusted family member before departure.
10. Stop when you see pressure
Pause the process if someone:
- Demands immediate cash
- Hides the employer’s name
- Refuses to issue receipts
- Changes the promised occupation
- Discourages official verification
- Promises a guaranteed visa
- Uses an artificial deadline
- Tells you to travel before work approval is complete
Information Matters
The Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi warned that false UAE notices were circulating with government logos, official emblems, the national flag, and even the embassy’s email address. A familiar logo does not prove that an announcement is genuine. Workers should use BMET, BOESL, Bangladesh missions, destination-country immigration authorities, and other official sources. The safest rule is simple: every promise should match a document, a responsible authority, and an independent verification step.
