The United Arab Emirates (UAE), the second largest labour market for Bangladesh, may reopen for Bangladeshi male workers soon after two years of suspension.
Bangladesh and the UAE are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this connection during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to the Gulf nation next week, said officials at the ministry of expatriates' welfare and overseas employment (MoEWOE).
Sheikh Hasina will pay a three-day visit to the UAE on October 25-27 at the invitation of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
President Md Abdul Hamid will also visit the UAE next week on separate programmes. The President will attend the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum at Dubai from Oct 28 to Oct 30.
According to sources, Dhaka has been working hard for reopening the Gulf market since August 2012 when the UAE imposed restrictions on entry of Bangladeshi workers to the country allegedly due to their involvement in criminal activities. They imposed the stringent measures also because of the increasing number of Bangladeshis entering the country, many with fake documents, expired passports and visas.
Bangladesh's manpower export declined significantly over the years due to the UAE's visa restriction on Bangladeshi male workers. Around 0.50 million (five lakh) Bangladeshi workers are now working in the UAE. Before the ban, the UAE used to hire at least 0.20 million Bangladeshis a year in various sectors, especially construction and cleaning.
But the figure dropped below 20,000 after the restrictions was imposed, according to the statistics of Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET). With the withdrawal of the ban on recruitment of Bangladeshi workers, officials hope that the UAE authorities will soon resume recruiting workers by issuing work visas.
According to the data available with the BMET, a total of 270,181 Bangladeshis went abroad with jobs during the first eight months of this calendar year, down from 273,386 in the corresponding period of last year in a year-on-year basis. The figures were 409,253 in 2013 and 0.607 million in 2012.
Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali will also visit the UAE to attend the fourth 'High Level Public Private Counter Piracy Conference' in Dubai from Oct 29 to Oct 30. The ministry of foreign affairs will brief the media about these visits today (Friday).
Besides manpower export, sources hinted, many other issues including seaport development and energy sector cooperation will also be discussed during the Prime Minister's UAE visit. The relevant ministries are now busy preparing the agenda for discussion during the visit. Bangladesh is also likely to seek cooperation from the UAE in two projects in the power and energy sector during the Prime Minister's visit.
According to official sources in the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources, Bangladesh is likely to seek UAE's investment and financial support for coal-based power development and also for establishing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal with re-gasification facilities in the country.
They pointed out that the UAE had shown keen interest for setting up a gas-fired power plant at Shahjibazar in greater Sylhet and this issue might come up for discussion as well.
Besides, Dhaka will seek duty-free access for the country's readymade garment (RMG) to the UAE which imports apparel products worth US$ 7.5 billion a year from global market, sources said. Bangladesh exported goods worth $ 245 million in fiscal year (FY) 2013-2014 to UAE against its import of $ 843 million. RMG constitutes around 78 per cent of Bangladesh's exports to the UAE.
The UAE is currently the fifth largest investing country in Bangladesh with $ 2.5 billion total investment in telecommunications, banking, ceramic, chemicals and textiles, an official at the Board of Investment said. See also Page 17
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