Migration cost may go up as airfare, medical fees rise

Private manpower recruiters on Tuesday expressed the fear that the cost of migration may go up due to increased airfare and the fees of different medical tests.
They urged the authorities concerned to take necessary measures for reducing the prices of these essential services.
Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) leaders expressed the concern at a press conference at its office in the city.
They said they would not able to comply with the government-fixed migration cost if the fees of medical tests and airfare do not come down.
The government has fixed the migration cost at Tk 165,000 for Saudi Arabia, Tk 160,000 for Malaysia, Tk 107,780 for UAE, Tk 106,780 for Kuwait, Tk 100,780 for Oman, Tk 97,780 for Bahrain, Tk 262,200 for Singapore and Tk 120, 780 for Brunei.
BAIRA President Benjir Ahmed said the medical fees of the migrant workers increased by Tk 5,000 for each worker and the airfare in the international routes increased by 80-100 per cent.
"The 'Open Sky Policy' should be declared to allow all airlines entering into Bangladesh for checking the increased airfare," he said.
Mr Ahmed also said that the overseas employment may decline because of reduced recruitment of workers in some important countries.
"Malaysia has stopped hiring workers since last seven months," he said, adding that the UAE stopped recruiting Bangladeshi male workers for last seven years.
BAIRA Secretary General Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman said Bangladeshi workers are facing job crises in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The government should start discussion immediately with the countries to look into the issues, he said.
BAIRA Senior Vice President Shafiqul Alam Firoz, Vice President Monsur Ahmed Kalam, Joint Secretary General Mizanur Rahman and executive committee members were present at the press conference.

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