The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh's manpower market is expanding around the world with workers going to different countries over the recent months.

Officials of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment told BSS that Bangladeshi workers would soon fly to Russia while all arrangements were already complete to send such wage earners to Canada from the current year.

Export of manpower to Bulgaria and Rumania has already begun, they said adding, Bangladesh already signed a deal with Oman on May 10 to enhance export of manpower to that country. According to the officials concerned, a Canadian company has been appointed to send Bangladeshi workers to that country. At the first stage, 1,156 workers will fly to Canada in three phases.

On the other hand, they said, the process of sending manpower to Malaysia is going to be easier soon. The government is continuing diplomatic efforts to this effect. Over the next 10 years, Malaysia will require 2/3 million foreign workers to carry forward its development activities. Besides Bangladeshis, workers from Vietnam and Indonesia have been working in Malaysia for a long time. Since the demand for labourers is increasing in Vietnam and Indonesia due to their internal development activities, the prospects of Bangladeshi workers is bright in Malaysia, they said.

According to the official statistics, as many as 34,635 Bangladeshi workers went to Malaysia this year, bringing the number to a total 589,207 so far.

In April this year, the government gave clearance to 68,030 workers for going abroad. Among them, 40,695 workers have already gone to various countries, the statistics said.

Besides, they said, 64,659 Bangladeshi workers in January, 61,592 in February and 47,458 in March went to different countries with jobs.

As Canada wants skilled manpower from Bangladesh, officials said in the first phase, workers would be recruited for the post of pipe fitters, wielders and carpenters.

They will get 15 to 18 Canadian dollars as remuneration per hour, enabling a worker to earn Bangladeshi Taka 9,800 everyday except overtime job.

Therefore, they said, the monthly income of a Bangladeshi worker will stand at around Taka 300,000. The income will go further high if the earning from overtime works is added.

According to official sources, a worker will be able to go to Canada by spending Taka 300,000, equivalent to a month's earning, through the state-controlled Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited [BOESL].

They said the Bangladeshis would be able to go to Canada legally through the government channel and send remittance to the country. This scope was created recently at the initiative of the government, they added.

The sources said 60 garment workers would get job in Russia very soon. The matter is at the final stage, they said adding, 187 workers have already gone to Rumania.

Another 500 garment workers will also go to Rumania, they said adding that the work order for sending 20 Bangladeshi workers to Bulgaria was already received.

The Bangladeshi workers are being sent to these three countries with the cooperation of the private sector entrepreneurs, the officials said.