Reza Mahmud :
Manpower exporters are optimistic following the government’s recent initiative to eliminate the need for Ministry approval before migrant workers can go abroad.
They believe this move will expedite the manpower export process and strengthen Bangladesh’s position in overseas labour markets.
On Tuesday, Professor Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Law, Expatriates’ Welfare, and Overseas Employment, announced that aspiring migrant workers will no longer need ministry approval before traveling abroad for employment.
“There are many challenges in sending expatriate workers abroad, and the process takes a long time.
We have investigated and found that expatriates seeking to work abroad required approval from three levels: the relevant embassy, the ministry, and BMET (Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training),” said Professor Nazrul during a press briefing.
Recruiting agencies had long expressed frustration with the delays caused by the bureaucratic procedures involved in securing approvals from these three bodies.
They specifically noted that obtaining ministry approval was particularly time-consuming.
Industry stakeholders explained that ministry officials often caused significant delays, further complicating the process for both aspiring migrant workers and recruiting agencies.
In many instances, delays led to employers canceling visas or demand letters, frustrating efforts to secure employment opportunities abroad.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) revealed that some corrupt officials within the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment were known to solicit bribes from recruiting agencies and workers seeking approval.
If their demands were unmet, those involved often faced additional obstacles and prolonged delays. With the new government initiative, it is expected that these issues will be resolved.
When contacted, Mohammed Fakhrul Islam, Joint Secretary General-1 of BAIRA and Managing Partner of Human Resource Development Center, shared his thoughts: “At least two weeks will be saved thanks to the new government decision. It will also protect aspiring migrants and agencies from unnecessary hassles.”
Other BAIRA leaders echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for further improvements in the recruitment process. Md. Tipu Sultan, Joint Secretary General-3 of BAIRA and Proprietor of Rajdhani Trade International, told The New Nation, “Employers typically seek quick recruitment of manpower for their businesses.
However, the delays we face often lead to the loss of demand letters and the cancellation of visas.”
He added that it remains to be seen how the government’s recent announcement will affect the overall process.
BAIRA leaders further urged the government to address the significant delays caused by embassy visa procedures, which continue to pose challenges.
They suggested that embassies should be directed to complete visa processing more efficiently, without unnecessary delays.
Bangladesh’s economy relies heavily on remittances sent by migrant workers, which form a major source of foreign currency for the country.
Economists point out that while much of the earnings from the ready-made garments (RMG) sector are spent on importing raw materials, the remittances from migrant workers constitute a solid inflow of foreign currency.
Moreover, migrant labour is a key employment source for Bangladesh, as around 15 to 20 lakh youth become eligible for work each year, with the domestic public and private sectors providing only about three to four lakh jobs. The rest typically seek employment abroad as migrant workers.