No change of Saudi hearts
Minister comes home with no good news for Bangladeshi expatriates, job seekers
The visit of expatriates' welfare minister to Saudi Arabia has for now yielded no good news
for the Bangladeshi expatriates who are facing troubles since long regarding renewal of work
permits or shifting of jobs.
“The Saudi authorities assured us of allowing job transfers only when they fully open the
labour market for Bangladesh,” Khandker Mosharraf Hossain told reporters at Hazrat
Shahjalal International Airport yesterday after his week-long visit to the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia (KSA).
labour market for Bangladesh,” Khandker Mosharraf Hossain told reporters at Hazrat
Shahjalal International Airport yesterday after his week-long visit to the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia (KSA).
He, however, could not say for sure when the Kingdom would fully open the market, but hoped
that Saudi Arabia would require huge workers to implement its plan to build five mega cities.
that Saudi Arabia would require huge workers to implement its plan to build five mega cities.
Saudi Arabia, which hosts around 20 lakh Bangladeshis, reduced recruitment from
Bangladesh in 2008. Annual recruitment has come down nearly to 15,000 since 2009 from
over a lakh in the previous years.
Bangladesh in 2008. Annual recruitment has come down nearly to 15,000 since 2009 from
over a lakh in the previous years.
It is also not allowing the Bangladeshis to join new jobs upon completion of their job contracts,
and stopped renewing their work permits for the last few years, expatriates in the country say.
and stopped renewing their work permits for the last few years, expatriates in the country say.
To address these issues, a six-member delegation comprising high officials and led by the
minister visited Saudi Arabia on February 22-27. Mosharraf later flew to India.
minister visited Saudi Arabia on February 22-27. Mosharraf later flew to India.
The Bangladesh delegation held meetings with Saudi labour minister Adel M Fakeih, vice
interior minister and two governors and requested them to help deal with these problems.
interior minister and two governors and requested them to help deal with these problems.
“The Saudi authorities said they have taken new policy regarding human resource
management to create more jobs for the Saudis.
management to create more jobs for the Saudis.
“Besides that, involvement of some Bangladeshi expatriates in criminal activities has created
negative impression,” he said.
negative impression,” he said.
Moreover, there are around 5-6 lakh Rohingyas, and of them, several hundred carry
Bangladeshi identities. “Many of them are engaged in crimes,” the minister said.
Bangladeshi identities. “Many of them are engaged in crimes,” the minister said.
Mosharraf said he informed the Saudi authorities about the measures the Bangladesh
government has taken to screen criminal records of the jobseekers.
government has taken to screen criminal records of the jobseekers.
“We asked them to take action against the criminals. In need, they can deport these workers
and we will help them in this regard,” he told reporters.
and we will help them in this regard,” he told reporters.
Begum Shamsunnahar, director general of the manpower bureau, told The Daily Star that
Saudi Arabia surely would recruit workers from Bangladesh, but they attached a condition of
“foolproof screening”.
Saudi Arabia surely would recruit workers from Bangladesh, but they attached a condition of
“foolproof screening”.
They also highlighted the issue of high migration cost that often force the workers getting
involved in crimes, said Shamsunnahar, who accompanied the minister during the visit.
involved in crimes, said Shamsunnahar, who accompanied the minister during the visit.
“As brokers trade on visas at both the ends, we told them that both the countries should work
together in this regard,” she added.
together in this regard,” she added.
Mosharraf said Saudi Arab and Bangladesh agreed to form a joint working group comprised
of officials from both the countries to monitor the labour recruitment process.
of officials from both the countries to monitor the labour recruitment process.
A Saudi delegation would visit Bangladesh in two months to see the measures Bangladesh
has taken to discipline the sector, the minister said.
has taken to discipline the sector, the minister said.
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