Dhaka: Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia today signed a landmark agreement in Riyadh on the recruitment of general workers, the first of its kind between the two countries in their 50-year history of diplomatic relations. Bangladesh Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul and Saudi Human Resources and Social Development Minister Engineer Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Saudi Arabia has been Bangladesh's largest overseas labor market since 1976, employing millions of Bangladeshi workers. However, until now, there had been no formal agreement on the recruitment of general workers. Previous agreements focused on the recruitment of domestic workers in 2015 and skills verification in 2022. The new agreement aims to open up opportunities for recruiting Bangladeshi skilled and semi-skilled workers across various professions in Saudi Arabia.
The agreement is also expected to enhance the protection of rights and welfare for both workers and employers, further strengthening the brotherly bilateral ties between the two nations. Prior to the signing ceremony, a bilateral meeting was held between Adviser Dr. Nazrul and Minister Al-Rajhi, during which the importance of transparency and fairness in the recruitment process was emphasized.
Dr. Nazrul also urged employers to take responsibility for renewing residence permits (Iqama) and to grant exit visas swiftly to workers wishing to return home. In response, the Saudi minister instructed the concerned authorities to take prompt and effective measures to address these issues. He also encouraged Bangladesh to continue its efforts to ensure safe and orderly migration.
The meeting further discussed enhancing cooperation in recruitment, training, and the welfare of expatriate workers, as well as ensuring their safety and protection in the host country. Present at the event were Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md. Delwar Hossain, Deputy Chief of Mission S.M. Nazmul Hasan, Labour Counsellor Muhammad Rezae Rabbi, and senior officials from both countries.