Bureaucratic tensions impact country’s manpower export sector

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Reza Mahmud :

The government’s manpower exporting wing and manpower recruiters in the country are currently at odds over the sending of migrant workers abroad.

This clash has dealt a severe blow to the nation’s main source of foreign currency earnings, the manpower export sector.

Recent statistics released by the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) underscore the magnitude of the issue.

In May, a total of 131,696 workers departed Bangladesh for employment opportunities abroad. However, the situation took a stark turn in June, with outbound manpower plummeting to a mere 55,045 workers, a reduction of nearly 80,000 compared to the preceding month.

In April 85,400 workers managed to secure overseas placements. Nevertheless, the abrupt decline observed in June has sparked concerns among stakeholders about the sector’s resilience and its ability to sustainably contribute to the country’s economy.

Manpower agencies, traditionally pivotal in facilitating employment abroad for Bangladeshi workers, have voiced mounting frustration over the situation.

They argue that stringent regulatory measures and procedural delays imposed by government agencies have severely hampered their operations, exacerbating an already challenging economic landscape.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, alongside BMET, remains at the forefront of efforts to mitigate these challenges and restore normalcy to the manpower export sector. However, the road ahead appears fraught with uncertainties as both sides grapple to find a middle ground amidst conflicting interests and regulatory obligations.

In a recent development, several labour-friendly nations, including Malaysia, Egypt, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Mauritius, and Brunei, have ceased importing workers from Bangladesh, dealing a severe blow to the country’s manpower export industry. Stakeholders have expressed deep concern over the detrimental impact this has had on Bangladesh’s economy.

Among these nations, Saudi Arabia, a crucial destination for Bangladeshi workers, continues to face complications in accepting workers due to bureaucratic hurdles in the verification process. This has further exacerbated the situation, leading to a significant decline in the outflow of Bangladeshi workers to the Kingdom.

The Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) has voiced frustration, attributing the downturn to bureaucratic complexities hindering their efforts.

BAIRA President Muhammad Abul Bashar lamented the lack of necessary support from government officials, which, he claimed, has hampered their ability to sustain labour markets abroad.

Immigration analysts have pointed out that the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment’s ineffective decision-making and coordination on critical issues have exacerbated the crisis. This has primarily affected workers seeking employment opportunities abroad, thereby severely impacting one of Bangladesh’s vital sectors for foreign currency earnings.

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Bashar also expressed concern over the restrictive policies affecting Bangladeshi workers seeking employment abroad.

Bashar articulated, “Several countries, including Brunei, have ceased accepting Bangladeshi manpower due to what he termed the non-cooperative attitudes of government officials.”

According to Bashar, “Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) has been designated to manage the recruitment of manpower to various countries, including Brunei.”

However, he lamented the lack of effective mechanisms known to government officials that could facilitate the creation of labour markets abroad.

“The government officials might not be aware of the existing mechanisms that could potentially open up new opportunities for Bangladeshi workers abroad,” Bashar commented during a press conference.

Stakeholders in the employment sector estimate that approximately 150,000 individual workers have been unable to travel to Saudi Arabia alone due to alleged non-cooperation from the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare.

However, efforts to reach officials from the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare for comment on these allegations were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

The BAIRA President also stated that the state minister has decided in a meeting with them (stakeholders) on Thursday that from now on, individuals can get immigration certificates showing the employer’s contact information for the job in Saudi Arabia.

When contacted, Saleh Ahmad Mozaffar, the DG of BMET, told The New Nation, “There are complications regarding issuing individual workers’ immigration certificates for Saudi Arabia. I suggested that recruiting agencies should first obtain permission from the ministry before approaching BMET.”

He mentioned that BMET officials are prepared to cooperate with recruiting agencies in accordance with the law and regulations.

However, efforts to reach Md. Ruhul Amin, Secretary of the Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry, for comments on this matter were unsuccessful despite repeated attempts to contact him by phone.

In 2023, Oman hired 127,883 workers from Bangladesh, whereas this year, only 302 workers have been sent to the country as of July. Similarly, in 2023, 1,081 workers were exported to Brunei Darussalam, but no workers have been sent there this year.

Several leaders of BAIRA, speaking anonymously, expressed concern over the dismal state of the labour market. They noted that the labour markets in various countries are closing, making it increasingly difficult to sustain their profession. They criticised the growing complexity of regulations, which they feel is hindering rather than facilitating their business.

“In this regard, the State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare shows some sincerity, but our Secretary is taking a stringent stance. Workers’ visas are expiring due to verification complications in Saudi Arabia. This is causing harm to both the workers and the country,” lamented one BAIRA member.