The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) issued statements on May 12 denying any endorsement or involvement with Bestinet’s Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS). The ILO stated it does not endorse Bestinet or the platform, which is used to facilitate migrant worker recruitment in Malaysia. The IOM said it had no part in designing, developing, operating, or assessing FWCMS [1, 2].
Bestinet responded on May 14 through its solicitors, saying it never claimed endorsement from either the ILO or IOM and defended the credibility of FWCMS [1]. However, Charles Santiago criticized Bestinet’s reliance on international references. He said, "The ILO said it does not endorse Bestinet or its FWCMS. The IOM went further and said it had no involvement… none." He questioned, "So why did two UN-affiliated bodies feel the need to say so publicly, in the same week?" and added, "A digital innovation competition is not a labour rights certification, not a governance audit" [2].
FWCMS has been used since 2018 to facilitate recruitment of migrant workers—mostly from Bangladesh—into Malaysia. Its modules include health screening, insurance, and agent management. The system features safeguards such as employer quota verification, biometric identity checks, medical verification, insurance and compliance monitoring, and traceability to reduce fraud, worker substitution, and illegal recruitment [1].
The platform received recognition from the World Summit Awards, which Bestinet cites as international accolades aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Despite this, Bestinet faces allegations of exploitation involving Bangladeshi workers and opaque business practices, which it denies [1, 2].
Malaysia ratified the ILO Forced Labour Protocol in 2022, committing the country to stronger safeguards for migrant workers [2].
The ILO and IOM’s public denials mark a significant moment in the debate over FWCMS’s legitimacy. The next scheduled development is continued scrutiny of Bestinet’s practices amid growing concerns about migrant worker rights in Malaysia.
