Asif Nazrul urges Saudi Arabia to recruit more skilled Bangladeshi workers

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul has urged Saudi authorities to recruit more skilled workers from Bangladesh.

He made the appeal during a bilateral meeting with Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, vice minister of the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, held on the sidelines of the 7th World Occupational Safety and Health Conference, yesterday (4 May).

During the meeting, the adviser highlighted Saudi Arabia's upcoming mega events, including World Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, and urged the recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers to support related projects and infrastructure development.

He also proposed that Saudi authorities verify the capacity and availability of job opportunities with employers before issuing work visas. Additionally, he recommended the introduction of a system for signing employment contracts online before workers arrive in Saudi Arabia.

The adviser further suggested to develop special training courses – tailored for both male and female workers – on Saudi labour laws, workplace culture, and other essential issues.

At the meeting, Asif Nazrul invited the Saudi authorities to visit the Technical Training Centres (TTCs) in Bangladesh. He also expressed interest in designating one or more TTCs exclusively for the training of workers bound for Saudi Arabia, if necessary.

He assured the Saudi side that female domestic workers would undergo a one-month training programme before receiving their visas, and would be sent to Saudi Arabia within two weeks of visa issuance following a short final training.

The Saudi Vice Minister for Labour Affairs welcomed these initiatives and expressed appreciation for Bangladesh's commitment.

The adviser expressed gratitude for the formation of a promised working team—comprising officials from the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the Bangladesh Embassy—to address specific issues faced by undocumented Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia, as agreed during the meeting held on 30 January this year.

It was also informed during the meeting that, in line with the decisions of the recent Foreign Office Consultations, a high-powered task force has already been formed to resolve issues related to undocumented workers and irregularities in worker recruitment in Saudi Arabia.

The meeting expressed optimism that the task force and the working team would play a vital role in resolving the challenges faced by Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia through continued dialogue and cooperation.

Adviser Asif Nazrul also participated as a panel speaker yesterday at the 7th World Occupational Safety and Health Conference in Riyadh.