Dhaka and Victoria on Monday signed a deal on manpower recruitment, paving the way for resumption of manpower export from Bangladesh to Seychelles.
Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed and Employment, Immigration and Civil Status Minister of the East African country Myriam Telemaque signed the agreement in Victoria on behalf of their respective countries, said a press release issued by Bangladesh mission in Mauritius.
Embassy officials, among others, were present at the signing ceremony.
Seychelles suspended manpower hiring temporarily from Bangladesh in October 2018.
The ban was imposed after six Bangladeshi employees of a security firm approached media houses to express their frustration as their employers had failed to pay them their wages.
However, both countries have recently shown interests to make a deal on manpower recruitment with a view to sending workers under a proper structure and with lower migration cost.
After signing the deal, Mr. Imran Ahmed said the bilateral relation between the two countries will be improved through sending the workers as well as increased trade.
The Indian Ocean nation hosts 25,000 foreign workers where the country's population is around 100,000.
Talking to the FE, officials at the expatriates welfare ministry said the demand for foreign workers is not higher in Seychelles, but the facilities including wages are attractive there.
So it can be a lucrative market for Bangladeshi workers, they said. Seychelles needs expatriate workers for its construction, agriculture and hospitality sectors at monthly wages ranging from $ 400 to $ 500.
Currently, about 2,500 Bangladeshis are working in Seychelles in different sectors including construction, hospitality, fishing and farming.
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