Manpower sector: Saudi Arabia, Jordan to legalise BD female workers

Staff Reporter :

Saudi Arabia and Jordan have initiated measures to regularise undocumented Bangladeshi female workers currently residing in both countries.

This development was shared by Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, following his recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Dr Nazrul confirmed that during his earlier visit to Saudi Arabia, he had requested the government take steps towards legalising un documented Bangladeshi workers.

“I was informed that the process to regularise undocumented female workers has already begun,” he said.

During the trip, Dr Nazrul met with Dr Abdullah N Abuthnain, Vice-Minister for Labour Affairs at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

The adviser also had discussions on the sidelines of the World Occupational Health and Safety Conference, where he met with a Jordanian minister who indicated that undocumented Bangladeshi workers in Jordan could also become regularised, should they choose to do so.

Between 2004 and April 2025, Saudi Arabia has employed approximately 600,000 Bangladeshi female workers, while Jordan has recruited about 211,000 during the same period.

In addition to these discussions, Bangladesh has formally requested Jordan to expand the hiring of Bangladeshi male workers to meet growing demand in various sectors.