Following various initiatives undertaken by the government, new labour markets are opening up for Bangladesh in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Japan and Malaysia. However, experts commented that progress made through G2G, transforming people into public resource, closing down human trafficking and continuing with diplomatic initiatives can open up more labour market opportunities. Foreign Minister Abdul Momen told Bangladesh Post that the current government is pursuing its efforts to open the labour market globally through diplomatic efforts.
The foreign minister also said that at the last NAM conference Government has taken various initiatives to increase interconnection with labour markets in Greece, Vietnam, Cambodia and many other countries through G2G. Meanwhile, the government is meeting up with the head of states in order to motivate opening up of the labour markets and consolidate business partnerships in Bangladesh. They have also given positive consent and have indicated that they will visit Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister and former diplomats said that there are some problems but the people of this country have the ability to overcome them. Former ambassador, Md Jameer Uddin Ahmed, told Bangladesh Post on Thursday that the country's position would be further improved by overcoming dishonesty and inefficiency. Our government is very sincere in this regard.
Regarding the Malaysian agreement, Md Jamir Uddin Ahmed said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohammad at the NAM conference. The Malaysian Prime Minister assured to take labourers from Bangladesh. The ambassador also said that Bangladesh is a country with great potential.
Bangladeshi diplomats say that till now, 95 percent of the men and women sent to Saudi Arabia are inefficient. The government is not taking steps to improve the quality of staff. However, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly talked about increasing accountability and discipline in addition to accountability and discipline in sending the workers from Bangladesh. The cost of sending male workers to Saudi Arabia is higher than in other countries.
When asked about the return of Bangladeshi workers from Saudi Arabia to the country, Secretary General of Manpower Exporters, BAIRA, Noman Ahmed Chowdhury said that lack of valid papers, working in one company with work permit from another company and earning extra income outside the scheduled work; these are some of the main factors due to which Saudi authorities are detaining the workers. However, it could not be ascertained exactly why the Bangladeshi workers were being sent back.
Tasnim Siddiqui, the founding chair of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), an immigration research organization, said there are problems in both countries in sending workers to Saudi Arabia. We have nothing to do with Saudi Arabia's problems. But for the sake of safe migration, the problems that are faced by Bangladeshis should be tackled properly.
Talking to Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment officials about returning workers from different countries, it is seen in the case of male workers, a large part of them are in danger because of travelling through free visa even if they get Iqama (work permit). They are being forced to return because of Akama's expiration and change of Kofil (employer).
Asked about the problem of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia Expatriates' Welfare Minister Imran Ahmad said on Wednesday that there were some problems in the process of sending Bangladeshi workers. For this reason, major changes are being made in the training process and schedule to accommodate the changing circumstances.
