Historic Bangladesh-Saudi deal to boost skilled migration, protect workers’ rights
Bangladeshis working in Saudi since 1976, but this is the first formal agreement for recruiting general workers
The governments of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have signed a formal agreement to facilitate the recruitment of skilled workers from Bangladesh across various professions in Saudi Arabia.
The deal also aims to ensure greater protection of the rights and interests of both workers and employers while strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between the two nations.
The agreement was formally signed in Riyadh by Asif Nazrul, adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare, on behalf of Bangladesh, and Eng Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, minister of Human Resources and Social Development, on behalf of Saudi Arabia, reads a press release.
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During the meeting, Adviser Asif raised several key issues, including ensuring transparency in recruitment contracts, making employers responsible for iqama renewal, and expediting exit visas for workers wishing to return home.
In response, Minister Al-Rajhi instructed relevant authorities to take effective measures to resolve these issues promptly and called upon Bangladesh to continue ensuring safe and orderly migration.
The two sides also held discussions on expanding cooperation in recruiting and training skilled workers from Bangladesh, as well as ensuring the welfare and protection of expatriate workers.
"The agreement should have been signed much earlier. There has long been tension with Saudi employers over the minimum salary for our workers. Besides, issues such as timely issuance of iqama, repatriation, and ensuring proper compensation and respectful return in case of injury or death must be properly safeguarded," Noman Chowdhury, former senior vice-president of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), told TBS.
"With this agreement, it will now be easier to secure workers' rights," he added.
Over the past five years, Saudi Arabia accounted for nearly 57% of the approximately 45 lakh (4.5 million) Bangladeshi workers sent abroad, according to Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) data.
However, this substantial outflow is predominantly concentrated in low-skilled jobs, with over 80% of workers employed in such roles.
Unofficial estimates suggest more than 30 lakh Bangladeshis currently work in Saudi Arabia, making it the largest single destination for Bangladeshi labour overseas.
