Manpower export from Bangladesh dropped sharply this year mainly due to virtual closure of the UAE labour market to its workers, officials said Monday.
Export of Bangladesh manpower came down since September 2012, when the UAE government imposed restrictions on entry visas to Bangladeshi workers citing security concerns as the reason, said Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training officials.
Manpower export during the first five months of this year dropped by about 50 per cent compared to the same period of the last year, they said.
They saw no immediate prospects of a radical change in the situation unless Bangladesh finds new employment destinations for its workers.
According to immigration clearance of BMET 1,74,277 workers got overseas jobs in the first five months of the current year compared to 3,21,727 during the corresponding period of 2012.
Malaysia would be a big destination when it starts full scale recruitments, a senior BMET official told New Age. A five-member government delegation led by Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry secretary held several meetings with UAE authorities during a recent visit to Abu Dhabi, officials said.
EWOW ministry officials said the UAE was unlikely reopen its job market for Bangladeshi workers any time soon as several long standing issues remain unresolved.
The UAE officials called for corrective measures over a series of gross irregularities committed by Bangladeshi migrant workers, they said.
According to BMET, only 2,957 Bangladeshi workers got jobs in UAE from January to April of the current year compared to 1,14,024 during the same period of last year.
A joint initiative from the government and Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies alone could bring dynamism in manpower export, BAIRA, secretary general Ali Haider Chowdhury told New Age.
BAIRA is keen to work with the government in reopening the closed job markets, he said.
-With New Age input
