25pc rise in recruitment of women abroad

Recruitment of women in the overseas job market has increased 25 per cent in the first four months of the current year compared to that of the corresponding period of the last year. This year nearly 10,886 females secured overseas jobs while the number was about 8,000 last year, according to the statistics of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). "The number of the recruitment will go up in the coming days as they (BMET) have explored new job markets abroad," said Secretary General of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Ali Haider Chowdhury. The foreign job market was very limited last year due to the world economic recession which had an impact on our recruitment process, he told the FE. He also blamed the lack of coordination between labour and employment ministry and foreign affairs ministry for the situation. Mr Chowdhury however expressed hope that Malaysia and Kuwait will recruit more workers from the country in the coming days. Recruitment agencies of the country and Saudi Arabia have already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in order to recruit workers in four categories, he mentioned. Mr Chowdhury said, "After a two-year embargo on hiring workers from Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia will resume recruiting Bangladeshis, especially domestic workers, in four categories - female domestic workers, drivers, security guards and gardeners. The female workers will be able to go free of cost while the male workers will have to pay the air ticket fees only, he added. The salary of the household workers will be around Tk 12,000 a month with free air ticket, food and accommodation while drivers will get a salary of nearly Tk 15,392 with free food or Tk 3,848 for food along with free accommodation, Mr Chowdhury also mentioned. - Shah Alam Nur