MidEast War: Overseas jobs pipeline under pressure

Bangladesh’s overseas labour market, a key pillar of the country’s economy, is passing through one of its most turbulent periods in recent years as the ongoing Middle East conflict disrupts migration routes and restricts access to major employment destinations.

Considering the gravity of the situation, the government has stepped up diplomatic efforts to reopen the Malaysian labour market, widely regarded as a critical lifeline for both migrant workers and the country’s foreign currency reserves.

The ongoing regional tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran have created instability across the Gulf region, where millions of Bangladeshi workers are employed.

Airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, Jordan and several Gulf countries have significantly curtailed travel, directly affecting labour migration flows.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, 894 flights were cancelled at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the 33 days leading up to April 1, reflecting the scale of disruption.

On April 1 alone, 18 flights to key destinations, including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, were grounded.

Officials say the crisis has slowed the movement of migrant workers, many of whom depend on regular flights to take up overseas employment.

The disruption is expected to continue as long as regional tensions remain unresolved.

At least six Bangladeshi nationals have reportedly been killed in the Gulf during the ongoing hostilities, raising concerns about the safety of workers in the region.

Data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) show that Bangladesh sent 43,776 workers abroad in March 2026, down from 62,436 in the same month last year, marking a decline of nearly 30 per cent.

Saudi Arabia remained the top destination with 24,476 workers, followed by Singapore, Qatar, the Maldives and Kuwait. However, industry insiders warn that even traditional labour markets are becoming increasingly uncertain.

“The ongoing Middle East conflict has squeezed labour mobility and created a serious bottleneck,” said a leading recruiter from the Bangladesh Association of International Recruitment Agencies (BAIRA).

“If the situation deteriorates further, migration flows could face additional pressure in the coming months.”

More than a dozen labour markets, including Malaysia, Oman, the UAE and Bahrain, remain partially or fully closed, narrowing Bangladesh’s migration pipeline.

Malaysia suspended general recruitment from Bangladesh and several other countries on June 1, 2024, leaving around 18,000 workers stranded despite completing all formalities.

An estimated Tk800 crore paid by these workers remains unresolved, with many still awaiting refunds.

The Bangladesh-Malaysia labour corridor has faced repeated disruptions over the years due to allegations of syndication, corruption and high recruitment costs.

Malaysia closed its labour market in 2009, reopened it in 2016, shut it again in 2018 due to irregularities, and resumed recruitment in 2022 before suspending new hiring in March 2024, with May 31 set as the final entry date.

Despite several high-level meetings and visits by Bangladeshi officials, including former expatriate welfare adviser Dr Asif Nazrul and former special envoy Lutfur Siddique, no significant progress has been made so far.

Malaysia has imposed 10 conditions for reopening the labour market, three of which Bangladesh has requested to revise, but no formal response has yet been received.

Against this backdrop, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on expatriate welfare Mahdi Amin are scheduled to visit Kuala Lumpur on April 8 to negotiate the reopening of the labour market and address recruitment concerns.

Officials said the talks would focus on improving transparency, dismantling syndicates and ensuring a fair recruitment system.

Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, former Secretary-General of BAIRA, said Malaysia’s labour market remained important for Bangladesh, particularly during the current crisis.

“Malaysia has introduced a minimum wage, and if workers earn between 1,500 and 2,000 ringgit, it translates into a significant income in Bangladeshi currency,” he told The New Nation.

“We would like to see similar minimum wage systems in Middle Eastern countries as well.”

He added that reopening the Malaysian market would provide much-needed relief at a time when several labour markets remain restricted.

“We want to ensure that no labour market is completely shut down. Even if fewer workers go, the market should remain open so that migration costs fall and workers have more choices,” he said.

State-run Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) has meanwhile initiated plans to send more than 7,800 workers to Malaysia’s construction sector, indicating a possible pathway for renewed engagement.

Experts say the current situation highlights the need for Bangladesh to diversify its labour markets and invest in skills development.

“The labour market is closely linked to economic stability,” Shamim Ahmed said. “When markets close, remittance inflows decline, affecting foreign reserves and rural livelihoods,” he added.