Restoration of workers' recruitment to Kuwait remains uncertain
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Mashiur Rahaman
Restoration of recruitment of Bangladeshi workers by Kuwait remains uncertain, frustrating desperate job seekers and recruiters.
"Even after a month since a high-level delegation led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the oil-rich gulf state, there is no sign of withdrawal of the 'stay-order' imposed by Kuwait on new recruit from Bangladesh," sources related to the overseas employment ministry told the FE.
Sheikh Hasina on her arrival from Kuwait on February 9 expressed optimism saying that the Kuwait government would intervene to lift the stay-order imposed in October 2006.
"Only 11 Bangladeshi worker found jobs in Kuwait during the last two months, the source said.
Around 450,000 Bangladeshis were involved in Kuwait's development works from 1976 to 2009. Driven largely by negative propagation in Kuwaiti media the government in 2006 imposed a temporary stay-order on worker imports from Bangladesh that still continues.
Effect of this restriction started to show from 2008 on Bangladeshi manpower export industry that pushed the annual number to almost nil, official of the state-run Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) told the FE.
"In the post recession global economy, when manpower employment markets for our workers are shrinking, we expected something concrete out of PM's latest visit to Kuwait," Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman told the FE.
He said "the country's manpower export industry were very hopeful when Sheikh Hasina announced that Kuwait would recruit Bangladeshi workers soon. But we have seen no positive movement so far and it's very disappointing," he explained.
"The Manpower export industry that contributes in generating vital reserve of remittance, is in desperate need of fresh market exploration," Mr Noman said claiming the responsibility lies with the government.
"When we are unable to source new employment markets, the government has to pay attention in restoring older markets", he added.
"I would request the government to do something concrete and right now," the leader of the country's 800 member association of recruiters urged desperately.
Manpower export experienced a 46 per cent fall in 2009 compared to the previous year, reflecting the impact of global recession that has led to a cut-down on fresh recruitment in major job markets.
A total of 475278 Bangladeshi secured jobs in 2009 which was 875055 in 2008, BMET data revealed.
Restoration of recruitment of Bangladeshi workers by Kuwait remains uncertain, frustrating desperate job seekers and recruiters.
"Even after a month since a high-level delegation led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the oil-rich gulf state, there is no sign of withdrawal of the 'stay-order' imposed by Kuwait on new recruit from Bangladesh," sources related to the overseas employment ministry told the FE.
Sheikh Hasina on her arrival from Kuwait on February 9 expressed optimism saying that the Kuwait government would intervene to lift the stay-order imposed in October 2006.
"Only 11 Bangladeshi worker found jobs in Kuwait during the last two months, the source said.
Around 450,000 Bangladeshis were involved in Kuwait's development works from 1976 to 2009. Driven largely by negative propagation in Kuwaiti media the government in 2006 imposed a temporary stay-order on worker imports from Bangladesh that still continues.
Effect of this restriction started to show from 2008 on Bangladeshi manpower export industry that pushed the annual number to almost nil, official of the state-run Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) told the FE.
"In the post recession global economy, when manpower employment markets for our workers are shrinking, we expected something concrete out of PM's latest visit to Kuwait," Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman told the FE.
He said "the country's manpower export industry were very hopeful when Sheikh Hasina announced that Kuwait would recruit Bangladeshi workers soon. But we have seen no positive movement so far and it's very disappointing," he explained.
"The Manpower export industry that contributes in generating vital reserve of remittance, is in desperate need of fresh market exploration," Mr Noman said claiming the responsibility lies with the government.
"When we are unable to source new employment markets, the government has to pay attention in restoring older markets", he added.
"I would request the government to do something concrete and right now," the leader of the country's 800 member association of recruiters urged desperately.
Manpower export experienced a 46 per cent fall in 2009 compared to the previous year, reflecting the impact of global recession that has led to a cut-down on fresh recruitment in major job markets.
A total of 475278 Bangladeshi secured jobs in 2009 which was 875055 in 2008, BMET data revealed.