The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

A total of 8,32,609 Bangladeshi workers were given immigration clearance to go abroad with employment till December 31, 2007 since the present caretaker government came to power.

Of which, more than five lakh 71 thousand workers were sent to different countries including Malaysia with employment, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry sources told BSS here yesterday.

Bangladeshis working abroad, a key source of economic stability, sent home a record of 6.57 billion US dollars in 2007 equivalent to Taka 45,683 crore. The record remittances also pushed up Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserve, the sources said.

The countries, where Bangladeshi workforce went include Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Libya, Kuwait, Singapore, Brunei, Jordan, UK, Italy, Mauritius, Lebanon and Ireland.

The sources said that with the timely action taken by the government new labour markets have been created in countries like South Korea, Poland, Canada, Rumania, Russia, Afghanistan, Yemen, Angola, Nigeria and South Africa. New labour market is likely to be opened up in Cyprus.

Expatriate Ministry sources further said that after a gap of 10 years, Malaysia started importing manpower from Bangladesh from October 22, 2006. And so far two lakh 45 thousand 16 workers went to Malaysia till December 31, 2007.

On average four hundred to seven hundred Bangladeshi workers have been going to Malaysia everyday although Malaysia had put a temporary ban on import of manpower.

The present government signed memorandum of understanding with some countries for export of manpower from the country.

The countries include, The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Qatar.

Dhaka and Seoul signed an agreement on the commencement of recruiting Bangladeshi manpower in South Korea under the country's new Employment Permit System (EPS) for foreign job seekers.

The deal styled 'Service Commitment Agreement was signed between Human Resources Department (HRD) of Korea and Bangladesh Overseas Employment Services Ltd (BOESL). However Korean language skill is a must for getting job there.

The government of Oman lifted a bar on recruitment of Bangladeshi workers after 12 years and expressed desire to recruit skilled workforce from the country.

The Omani minister for manpower Dr. Juma bin Ali bin Juma during his visit to Dhaka recently had announced the lifting of bar. Presently some 130,000 Bangladeshis are employed in the tiny oil rich Gulf State. Oman requires skilled manpower like doctors, engineers, technicians and other professionals.

The sources said that Bangladesh and Qatar on January 6 this year signed an additional protocol to recruit more workers especially skilled workforce from the country for the Gulf State.