An important bilateral agreement on the recruitment of general staff has been signed between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. The agreement is viewed as a significant milestone in the history of the labor market and immigration systems of the two countries.
Dr. Advisor to the Ministry of Overseas Welfare and Foreign Employment for the Bangladesh Government. Asif Nazrul and Saudi Arabia signed the agreement for the government of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmed Bin Sulaiman Al-RJHI, on October 6) said in a press release.
BSS reports that this is a formal agreement for the first time in the 50-year history of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh. Earlier, employees were sent from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia informally. In 1976, workers from Bangladesh were first sent to Saudi Arabia. Since then, more than 3 million Bangladeshi workers have been working in Saudi Arabia, which has been the largest source of remittance flow in Bangladesh.
Earlier, two special agreements were signed in 2015 2015 and two special agreements on skill verification and recognition in 2022. However, this is the first formal agreement to appoint general staff, which experts believe that the rights and protection of expatriate workers is a breakthrough.
With the signing of the contract, the opportunity to send skilled, semi-skilled, and general workers from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia will now increase. The joint venture between the two countries will emphasize training, skills verification, safe migration, and transparency in the recruitment process. Besides, the contractual relationship between the employer and the employee, the renewal of Akama, and the issues of giving the Exit VISA on time will be more precisely implemented.
The meeting between the two countries’ delegation before the signing of the agreement was Dr. Asif Nazrul Saudi urged the authorities to protect the rights of the staff, the employers who are responsible for the renewal of the Akama should be properly and the workers who are willing to return to the country should get the Exit Visa quickly”We will ensure training and skill certification before sending skilled workers from Bangladesh,” he added. This allows Saudi Arabia to get a more qualitative labor force.
In response, Saudi Human Resources and Social Development Minister Engineer Ahmed Bin Sulaiman Al-Rjhi said, “Bangladesh is an important labor market partner.” This agreement will start a new chapter, not just an appointment, but also in human resource development.
He ordered the ministries of both countries to work closely to ensure staff welfare, skill development, and legal protection.
The meeting also discussed the meeting on setting up of training centers in Bangladesh, launching a digital verification system for employee recruitment, protection of women workers, and building a joint monitoring system to suppress the illegal broker cycle.
The Ambassador of Bangladesh was appointed to Saudi Arabia at the signing ceremony of the contract. Delwar Hossain, Mission Vice -S. Nazmul Hasan, Labor Counselor Muhammad Rezae Rabbi, Saudi Human Resources Ministry’s top officials, including representatives of the two countries were present.
Expatriate ministry officials say the number of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia will increase by at least 20% in Saudi Arabia if the agreement is implemented. Currently, there are about 2.7 million Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia, who send about 6 billion USD remittances a year.
Through the agreement, Bangladeshi staff will get a good salary, an advanced work environment, and medical and housing facilities according to skills. At the same time, a joint online data platform will be created for the staff, where the information about the recruitment and the work is stored.
The Bangladeshi government expects the two countries to deepen the diplomatic relations of this historic agreement. An official of the Ministry of Expatriates said that the export of skilled workers will not only increase remittance, it is improve Bangladesh-Yo-Its foreign relations and the international labor market will brighten the image.
