Overseas recruitment rises as pending visas cleared, but concerns remain
Saudi Arabia recruited 80,663 workers last month, up from 44,258 in February
Bangladesh's overseas employment has rebounded, with over one lakh workers sent abroad in March this year, following a period of disruption in February due to recruitment delays in Saudi Arabia.
The slowdown began after a requirement was reintroduced mandating embassy attestation for single-visa holders by the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh.
However, as pending visas were cleared, recruitment saw a 68% rise compared to February and a 41% increase year-on-year, according to data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
Despite the rebound, labour market experts expressed concern about the overdependence on Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 77% of the total overseas employment in March.
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Saudi Arabia recruited 80,663 workers last month, up from 44,258 in February. Qatar followed with 9,054 workers, then Singapore, Kuwait, and Jordan.
Other key destinations—such as Malaysia, the UAE, Oman, and Bahrain—remain closed due to alleged corruption and mismanagement in the recruitment process.
Industry insiders have urged the government to undertake diplomatic efforts to reopen these markets and also explore new destinations in Europe, where there is high demand for skilled labour.
Most jobs secured in the Middle East remain low-skilled, including roles in construction, cleaning, and domestic work, with monthly salaries typically ranging from Tk25,000 to Tk35,000.
"The mandatory attestation at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh for single-visa holders recently slowed the recruitment process. But following our demand, the BMET authority allowed processing of pending visas, which led to an overall rise in recruitment," said Md Tipu Sultan, former joint secretary-general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), in an interview with TBS.
He added that while attestation for single visas would continue under new government guidelines, the migration process for female workers remained slow, resulting in limited recruitment in recent years.
Saudi visas for Bangladeshi workers are issued under two categories: single visas and group visas. Group visas—defined as deployments of more than 25 workers to the same company—have long required embassy attestation.
Although the requirement was previously relaxed for single visas, it was reinstated after reports emerged that many workers were arriving in Saudi Arabia without jobs or valid Iqama (work permits).
The attestation process is intended to verify job offers and reduce the risk of worker exploitation.
In a recent statement, BMET said the requirement is in line with the Foreign Employment and Migration Act 2013 and the 2017 rules, designed to ensure safe migration.
Initially, the embassy in Riyadh had allowed faster processing to support migration, given Saudi Arabia's role as Bangladesh's largest labour market.
However, poor working conditions and early returns prompted stricter enforcement of the verification process.
To improve efficiency, the embassy has launched a digital system allowing agencies to attest demand letters online.
The BMET has urged all recruiting agencies to use the platform to ensure safer and quicker migration.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever monthly remittance inflow in March, receiving $3.29 billion, surpassing the previous record of $2.64 billion set in December last year.
In February, remittances stood at $2.53 billion, then the fourth-highest on record.
Bankers attributed the March surge to increased remittances ahead of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr, as well as a reduction in the use of informal "hundi" channels.
