Diplomatic Correspondent :
The Saudi Government has announced a new round of commitments to protect the rights of Bangladeshi workers and ensure greater transparency in recruiting workers from Bangladesh.
In recent discussions, the Saudi government expressed its interest in collaborating with Bangladesh to improve worker-employer relationships, hold both parties accountable, and protect workers’ rights.
Faisal Al-Dafayan, the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia, conveyed this interest during a courtesy meeting and workshop at his office with Md. Abul Hasan Mridha, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, on Wednesday.
Al-Dafayan noted that among the foreign workers currently employed in Saudi Arabia, Bangladeshis constitute the largest group, with their demand increasing due to their hard work and dedication.
The Assistant Deputy Minister highlighted that the extensive manpower from Bangladesh is crucial in implementing the projects under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
He sought the Embassy’s cooperation to familiarize Bangladeshi expatriate workers with the various digitalized service systems available to them.
The workshop emphasized the benefits of these digitalized services and how expatriate workers can utilize them.
During the meeting, the Deputy Chief of Mission thanked the Saudi government for facilitating employment and taking care of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia.
He also sought Saudi cooperation on various issues, including enhancing mutual cooperation in labor relations, ensuring work and residence permits, issuing visas, repatriating female workers upon contract completion, ensuring the prompt return of workers whose residence permits have expired, and resolving complaints of Bangladeshi recruiting agencies in the ‘Musaned’ system.
The Assistant Deputy Minister outlined various measures taken by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to increase transparency and accountability in the Saudi labor market.
He mentioned that 1,200 labor inspectors have been recently appointed to address workers’ complaints, resolving nearly one million complaints in 2023.
He added that the Saudi government is making relentless efforts to automate the entire recruitment process, aiming to develop Saudi Arabia into a modern, labor-friendly country.
When he requested the Embassy’s cooperation in implementing these initiatives, Hasan Mridha assured full cooperation from the Bangladesh side.
Furthermore, Mridha requested the appointment of a focal point at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development for the immediate resolution of workers’ issues, to which the Assistant Deputy Minister agreed.
The workshop was attended by Muhammad Rezae Rabby, Labour Counselor; Muhammad Humayun Kabir, Political Counselor; Muhammad Alamgir Hossain, First Secretary (Labor); and Asaduzzaman Khan, Second Secretary (Press) from the Embassy’s Labour Welfare Wing.