Foreign Work Permit Applications in Bangladesh Rise by 8%

Italy has promised to clear 20,000 pending visa applications for Bangladeshi nationals by December, Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain said. After discussions with the Italian ambassador, it was agreed that Italy will speed up the process by increasing staff at its Dhaka embassy.

Every day, 350 to 400 migrant workers return to Bangladesh, mainly from Saudi Arabia, due to rising Iqama fees now at 11,000 Saudi riyals per year. This increase has led to a nearly $1 billion drop in remittances from Saudi Arabia in 2023 compared to two years ago. Many workers return empty-handed, and a significant number are becoming undocumented as employers resist paying the high fees.

Ami Probashi Limited has partnered with Grameen Digital Healthcare Solutions to enhance healthcare access for Bangladeshi migrant workers through telemedicine. The agreement, signed on September 18, aims to provide essential healthcare services to expatriates via the Shukhee app, allowing them to consult specialist doctors remotely through video calls.

Saudi Arabia has become a popular destination for Bangladeshi bikers, with around 10,000 motorcyclists securing jobs in the country’s food delivery sector. An additional 550 bikers are needed within a month. The recruitment process is transparent, and a job fair will be held on September 21 at the Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Centre in Dhaka to recruit the remaining bikers. Applicants must have passed SSC exams, possess two years of riding experience, and be aged between 21 and 36.

Labour migration from Bangladesh to South Korea is expected to fall short of the 11,500 job quota set for 2024, with only 1,978 workers securing positions in the first eight months. South Korean employers have reduced demand for foreign workers, impacting all source countries, including Bangladesh. Despite Bangladesh's strong semi-skilled workforce in sectors like motor vehicles, rubber, apparel, and food, the sluggish demand, coupled with factors like early job switches and limited language proficiency, has hindered job placements.

In July 2024, Brunei began recruiting Bangladeshi workers under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, hiring 25 workers for construction, services, and hospitality. The MOU for this agreement was signed in October 2022 during a visit by Brunei's Sultan to Bangladesh. Under the deal, Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) is responsible for worker recruitment, with private recruiters excluded. BOESL's contract with recruitment companies started in February, receiving 400 job requests from 100 employers.