A Bangla daily reports that the number of outbound Bangladeshi workers continues to fall. In 2018, total 7,34,181 workers from Bangladesh went abroad legally. In 2017, the figure was 10,08,525. In the first quarter of the last year (January to March), the export of human resource was 2,04,201 whereas in the first quarter of this year it has reduced by 17 per cent to 1,63,699 workers.
We understand the old labour market abroad is shrinking. Many Bangladeshi workers are coming back from Saudi Arabia. Job market for males in the UAE is practically closed. In the first three months of this year, Bangladesh sent only a few hundred female workers to the UAE. Malaysia has not issued any new visa since last September. In the first quarter of this year (January to March), fewer than 50 persons went to Malaysia.
Increase in air fair - between Dhaka and various overseas destinations - is also responsible for fewer workers going abroad.
We urge the government to take diplomatic initiatives with manpower-importing countries. Vocational education is a must to create skilled workers for the overseas job market.
Alamgir Hossain
Kaigari, Bogra
Overseas job market shrinking
FE Team | Published: April 13, 2019 20:16:40
Overseas job market shrinking
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