Dhaka:Bangladesh received $25.74 billion in remittances over an eight-month period ending October 10, as 443,021 Bangladeshi workers found employment in 109 countries. Amidst disruptions in the Middle East due to ongoing conflicts, the government is actively seeking new labor markets.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Saudi Arabia was the leading destination for Bangladeshi workers, with 218,508 individuals securing jobs there during this period. Other significant destinations included Singapore with 53,297 workers, Qatar with 42,516, the Maldives with 24,070, the United Arab Emirates with 20,661, and Kuwait with 20,254.
Additionally, 10,010 workers went to Jordan, 7,077 to Italy, 5,386 to Portugal, and 2,878 to Iraq. Smaller numbers of workers also found employment in countries like Mauritius, Serbia, Fiji, Belarus, and Russia.
Mahdi Amin, an adviser to the Prime Minister on Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, highlighted the historical development of manpower exports, noting the efforts to reopen labor markets and develop skilled workers despite the global challenges posed by the Middle East conflict.
State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Md. Nurul Hoque, mentioned initiatives to legalize undocumented workers in the Middle East and explore new markets in the Asia-Pacific and Europe. Despite the war, approximately 350,000 workers have managed to secure jobs in the Middle East.
Efforts are also underway to expand the labor market in Malaysia, with a Memorandum of Understanding between Bangladesh and Malaysia set to expire at the end of the year. Other countries, like Oman and Italy, have shown interest in recruiting Bangladeshi workers, and Qatar has expressed interest in skilled workers from specific sectors.
The government is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of expatriates while working to increase the number of workers sent abroad. Steps are being taken to expedite the issuance of expatriate cards and improve facilities for overseas workers.