Resurgence in manpower export to Saudi Arabia

At a time when things are far from rosy on the manpower export front, reopening of workers' temporary migration to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is more than just refreshing. After the seven year-long embargo on export of manpower from Bangladesh, the move has been initiated by the Saudi government to recruit Bangladeshi workforce, that too in large numbers. This will no doubt lessen much of the fears about the future of manpower export, especially to the most preferred destination of Bangladeshi job-seekers.

The deal between the two governments has been inked, and fine-tuning of the procedures should not take long. The Saudi delegation, led by the country's deputy minister for international affairs, seemed quite forthcoming in reopening the Saudi labour market to the Bangladeshi workers. This has been reflected in the announcement made at a press conference by the leader of the Saudi delegation. Highlighting the need for foreign workers in the Saudi kingdom, he said that his country issued around 1.3 million new visas last year for recruiting foreign workers. In the current year too, the requirement, as he stated, is of similar volume -- a huge prospect that Bangladesh can fruitfully capitalise on. The Saudi deputy minister also mentioned that Bangladesh would be given "priority" while recruiting the 1.3 million foreign workers this year.  Furthermore, he assured all concerned of the efforts by his government to keep migration costs lower.

       One of the important decisions, reportedly firmed up during the official level meeting, include recruiting 10,000 Bangladeshi workers a month at a considerably low cost through private sectors of the two countries. Among the perks to be facilitated by the Saudi employers beside a reasonably good minimum salary are: visa, airfare, levy and other key expenses of the workers. While workers will be recruited through Saudi and Bangladeshi private recruiting agencies, the local private recruiters will work under close supervision of the expatriate ministry. The government, as has been mentioned by the Bangladesh minister concerned, will not set any margin on the fees for the recruiters. It will be fixed by the recruitment agencies of two countries through discussion.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the Saudi administration is now putting increasing focus on job creation for its own people. The authorities are trying to engage Saudi workforce in some segments of jobs currently being done by expatriates who constitute an overwhelming 85 per cent of the private sector workforce. However, observers are of the opinion that the bulk of the less-skilled and semi-skilled segments of jobs will have to be filled up there by foreign workforce. Bangladesh used to export little over 0.1 million workers a year to Saudi Arabia prior to the restrictions imposed in 2008. Presently, around 1.5 million Bangladeshis are employed in the kingdom who account for a lion's share of their home country's remittances. In fiscal 2013-2014, Bangladeshi workers in the KSA sent $3.12 billion in remittance to the country. So far, things look fine. The government deserves credit for engaging itself with the Saudis in delivering the results that will be highly beneficial for the country as a whole. All that the authorities here should be up to is ensuring strict compliance with the guidelines of recruitment, as agreed with the Saudi counterparts.