Play store
The government has cancelled the licences of 52 recruiting agencies over alleged irregularities and corruption as part of efforts to curb fraud in overseas employment, Labour and Employment Minister and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said.
The minister disclosed the information while speaking to journalists after inspecting the Labour Welfare Complex in Bandar, Narayanganj, on Tuesday.
The complex includes a hostel for working women and a five-bed hospital. During the visit, the minister reviewed its overall operations, accommodation facilities for female workers and healthcare services, and gave necessary instructions to officials.
Addressing the media, the minister also discussed the safety of Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia following a recent attack on an airport there.
He said the government had been regularly monitoring the situation of Bangladeshi nationals in the kingdom. Expatriates have been advised to remain alert and contact the Bangladesh Embassy promptly in case of an emergency.
The minister warned that the government would take strict legal action against those involved in fraudulent recruitment practices. He said several establishments had also been sealed as part of the crackdown.
He added that public awareness initiatives would be strengthened to prevent people from being deceived by promises of overseas jobs.
The minister also raised concerns over travel agencies allegedly engaging in the recruitment and overseas placement of workers without proper legal authority.
To improve transparency and discipline in the sector, the government plans to bring every stage of overseas worker recruitment under an online system, he said.
He expressed hope that the reforms would produce visible improvements in the expatriates’ welfare sector within the next four to five months.
Local political leaders and administrative officials accompanied the minister during the inspection.
Those present included Narayanganj-5 MP Advocate Abul Kalam, Bandar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shibani Sarkar, and senior officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the local administration.
