DHAKA: The opportunities of Bangladeshis going Saudi Arabia for work is recommencing as the country’s ministerial panel has advised the government to lift a ban on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.

Bangladeshi workers again will enter to the country after expiry of the amnesty period declared by the Saudi government.

But now Saudi government interested to take more trained and qualified labor mainly housemaid, drivers and cleaners.

Saudi Arabia used to recruit about 150,000 Bangladeshis a year before the 2008 ban.

Later Saudi Arabia imposed ban on the recruitment from Bangladesh even stopped the visa, Iqama renewal, and transfer.

Meanwhile, Saudi embassy to Dhaka was given prudence about the criminal offence of Bangladeshi workers to Saudi.

The Saudi Labor Ministry sources said the government would continue to issue visas for Bangladeshi workers, especially to carry out the government’s cleaning and maintenance contracts.

“We understand that Bangladesh can supply trained and qualified labor at a cheaper rate,” a source said.

Bangladesh has pledged that it would not export nationals with criminal backgrounds to the Kingdom

The Saudi Embassy has been asked to keep a watch on the measures taken by the Bangladeshi government to ensure that criminal elements are not hired.


Saudi Arabia will also launch a new service to lease housemaids by monthly contracts within two weeks. The move will allow customers to hire maids on a weekly or hourly basis.

Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina in her Saudi visit requested to the government to withdraw the ban on Bangladesh workers.

Besides, foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni and Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain also several times requested the Saudi government.

Following the steps Saudi labor market is going to open again.

Expatriate Welfare secretary Dr Jafar Ahamed Khan told banglanews, “Saudi government will recruit Bangladesh workers again and it’s great news for Bangladeshi workers.”

Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agency (BAIRA) secretary general Ali Haydar Chowdhury told banglanews, “Saudi Arabia showed interest to recruit some workers but it doesn’t mean that labor market became opened. It was their previous proposal.”

BDST: 1333 HRS, OCT 04, 2013
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