KUALA LUMPUR (May 14): Bestinet Sdn Bhd on Thursday shrugged off the International Labour Organization (ILO) denial of endorsing its Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), saying that it does not detract from the platform’s credibility or international recognition.
In a statement issued via its solicitors Lui & Bhullar on Thursday, the company said the ILO’s recent clarification should not be interpreted in a way that undermines FWCMS’ international accolades, including the World Summit Awards (WSA), which are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The WSA remains a respected international platform recognising impactful digital solutions aligned with broader public governance and sustainable development objectives. The recognition received by FWCMS reflected the platform’s innovation, scalability and potential contribution towards addressing long-standing governance, compliance and migrant management challenges,” the statement read.
The clarification follows the ILO’s statement two days ago that it does not endorse FWCMS or Bestinet, and that the system has no official recognition from the United Nations.
Bestinet acknowledged the ILO’s position that it did not independently assess or verify the company’s credentials or technical competence at the time, and therefore did not provide any formal endorsement — a stance it said it has never disputed.
The company said the FWCMS has undergone strict checks to meet requirements in cybersecurity, data protection, and operational integrity. It also involved coordination with enforcement, immigration, security, and regulatory agencies to ensure it can support national-level operations.
It added that the system was built as a governance tool to address long-standing issues in cross-border labour recruitment.
FWCMS includes safeguards such as employer quota verification, biometric identity checks, medical verification, insurance and compliance monitoring, and full traceability to reduce fraud, worker substitution, and illegal recruitment practices.
FWCMS has been used since 2018 to facilitate the recruitment of migrant workers into Malaysia, particularly from Bangladesh, covering modules such as health screening, insurance and agent management.
However, the system has come under scrutiny over allegations of exploitation involving Bangladeshi workers and opaque business practices — claims Bestinet has consistently denied.
Fees, oversight and worker protection
Bestinet said it shares concerns raised by the ILO, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in May 2024 over migrant workers arriving in Malaysia without the promised jobs.
“Bestinet also welcomes the ILO’s stated willingness to support a tripartite consultation, including participation from the Malaysian government and the government of the labour sending countries, and is prepared to participate constructively in any such consultation convened with the government of Malaysia.
“Any attempt by parties to selectively quote or deliberately take the ILO’s clarification out of context in order to create false or misleading impressions regarding FWCMS, Bestinet or its directors and employees will be viewed seriously, and the company reserves all rights to take appropriate action where necessary,” it added.
Bestinet reiterated its support for the ILO’s Employer Pays principle, under which migrant workers should not bear recruitment or placement costs. It said it does not charge workers, collect recruitment fees, or receive any portion of such payments, with FWCMS designed to promote transparency, traceability and accountability across the recruitment chain.
It also clarified that matters such as government policies, levy structures, statutory charges and recruitment fees fall outside its purview, as FWCMS operates strictly as a technology and process management platform, with policy decisions resting with the relevant authorities.