BMET's rejoinder and our reply
The BMET’s statement did not specify the type of informational inconsistency in the TBS report published on 8 March 2025
The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) issued a rejoinder to a TBS report titled "Manpower export drops 36% in February amid embassy attestation rule for Saudi visas", stating that the report contains informational inconsistencies.
In a statement, the BMET clarified that the requirement for embassy attestation is part of the Foreign Employment and Migration Act 2013 and the 2017 rules to ensure the safe migration of overseas workers, including to Saudi Arabia.
BMET's main objective is to ensure the safe migration of overseas workers.
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Due to Saudi Arabia's status as Bangladesh's single largest labour export market, the exit process for workers was relaxed to facilitate faster migration. However, the Bangladesh Embassy in Reyad has reported poor conditions for many workers and early returns due to the lack of employment.
To streamline the complex process, the embassy has developed a software system allowing recruiting agencies to quickly attest workers' demand letters online, ensuring safer and faster migration.
The BMET encourages all recruiting agencies to use the new software for efficient processing of workers migrating to Saudi Arabia.
Our reply
The BMET's statement did not specify the type of informational inconsistency in the TBS report published on 8 March 2025.
The report mentioned the requirement for mandatory attestation by the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia for single visas, also highlighting that many Bangladeshi workers have recently faced issues, including difficulty finding work and obtaining Iqama (work permit).
