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Bangladeshi expatriate workers whose Saudi residency permits (iqamas) have expired due to flight disruptions caused by the war will still be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said.
Once the affected workers are able to travel to Saudi Arabia, their entry will be automatically processed through the electronic system, allowing them to enter the country, the minister said.
He made the remarks while addressing a discussion at the BIAM Foundation auditorium in New Eskaton, Dhaka, on Monday.
Addressing representatives of recruiting agencies, the minister stressed the need for cooperation between the government and recruitment agencies to achieve the country’s overseas employment targets.
He called for reducing migration costs, saying workers should not be charged Tk 700,000–800,000 when they could travel abroad for Tk 300,000.
He urged recruiting agencies to conduct their businesses ethically and refrain from charging workers excessive fees.
The minister also said the government would announce the launch of medical examinations for Malaysia-bound workers within the next couple of days.
He cautioned workers against rushing to agents before the official announcement.
He added that the government was working to introduce modern technology at the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) to simplify overseas employment procedures and speed up visa verification. An open email service would also be introduced and publicised to facilitate the resolution of complaints.
The minister emphasised the importance of complying with the laws and regulations of destination countries and urged recruiting agencies to help raise workers’ awareness.
State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Haque and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Zafar H. Bin Abiyah attended the event, among others.
