Manpower export set to hit record high this year

The manpower export of Bangladesh crossed 12 lakh during the January-November period of the current calendar year with total export is expected to hit record high this year, according to the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) leaders and Bureau, Manpower, Employment and Trading (BMET) officials. Bangladesh exported a total of 1210,256 workers during the January-November period of the current calendar year. The present trend shows that manpower export is likely to cross 13 lakh provided this trend prevails, said a BMET officer.

Bangladesh exported a total of 1135,873 workers in 2022 the highest number in one year, during the last 52 years and a total of 1,008,525 workers in 2017. Saudi Arabia was the top destination of Bangladeshi workers with 451,502 workers (over 37.31 of the market share), followed by Malaysia with 329,431 workers (27.92 per cent), Oman with 125,961 (10.41 per cent), UAE with 90,078 workers (7.44pc), Singapore with 49,608(4.10), Jordan with 7539 workers (0.62 %), Qatar with 50,414 (4.17), Kuwait with 34,489 workers (2.85%), Italy with 16,820 workers (1.39), Japan 897 (0.07 % ) and the UK with 9516 workers (0.79%), according to BMET data.

Meanwhile, new Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) President Mohammad Abul Bashar said that Bangladesh would explore new market in the New Year. Bangladesh should explore a new labour market next year as the manpower export to Malaysia—the second largest destination of Bangladeshi workers after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -- may lose in the coming days, sources said. Bangladesh exported a total of 307,049 workers to the Southeast Asian country (27.92 per cent of total export) during the January–October period of the current calendar year, according to the Statistics of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).

Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Khorshed Khastagir said the manpower market is reaching a saturation point in Malaysia for the time being. Bangladesh exported a total of 50,090 workers to Malaysia (4.41 per cent) last year as against a total export of 1135,873 workers last year.

Khorshed Khastagir said that as of now 360,000 Bangladeshis arrived in Malaysia and another 230,000 Bangladeshis are in the pipeline and it seems by the end of this year, hopefully 500,000 Bangladeshis will be in Malaysia. “No, I don't think similar demand will remain for next year,” the deputy high commissioner of Malaysia said.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh sent a total of 1,099,843 workers during January-October period of the current calendar year – around 1.04 lakh in January, 109, 059 workers in February, and 109,438 lakh in March, 78,833 in April and 101,558 in May and 114,175 in June and 125,850 workers in July and 138,675 workers in August and 107,584 workers in September, 2023 and 110,158 workers in October, 2023.

Until August, 2023, for four consecutive months, Malaysia retained the top position in terms of recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in the overseas countries, according to the data of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). Malaysia recruited a total of 21,009 workers in October, 21,520 workers in September, 46,105 workers in August, a total of 40,329 workers in July, a total of 41,438 workers in June and a total of 35,190 workers in May Bangladesh exported a total of 107,584 workers in September as against 138,675 workers in August to overseas countries, clocking 22.42 per cent negative growth over the previous month, according to the data of BMET.

Reopening of the Malaysian market last year was a catalyst behind the growth in recent months as the country attracted the second largest number of Bangladeshi workers in a single month after Saudi Arabia. Recruiting agencies say that Malaysia is a more preferable destination for Bangladeshi workers than Middle Eastern countries because of its comparatively better salary structure and weather conditions that are almost similar to Bangladesh's. According to the Malaysian government's new salary structure, a newly-recruited worker will get at least 1,500 Malaysian Ringgit (equivalent to Tk37,000) per month. The salary range for low-skilled or unskilled workers is between Tk25,000-30,000 in Saudi Arabia. Currently, Bangladeshi workers are getting recruited in all sectors in Malaysia, including plantations, agriculture, manufacturing, services, mining, construction and household services.

Meanwhile, the decision to suspend the issuance of visas of Bangladeshi nationals is a temporary measure and not political in nature, said the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Dhaka recently. "Oman recalls with utmost respect and gratitude the contributions made and being made by Bangladeshi expatriates while it values the close and brotherly relations with the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh," read a statement from the embassy.

The content of the announcement issued by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) regarding the suspension of the issuance of visas for Bangladeshi nationals comes in the context of a comprehensive review process being conducted by the relevant Omani authorities to streamline the regulation of foreign labour market in line with the needs and stability of Omani labour market in a way that ensures the rights of both workers and employers by labour laws, the embassy said.

The competent authorities are exerting their sincere efforts and are keen to complete the review process as early as possible to resume the visa issuance process afresh by the guidelines and regulations that conclude the review process, it added. The embassy also said that the review process is based on technical and legal factors that serve and protect the interests of an expatriate worker and the employer as well as ensure the stability of the foreign labour market in Oman. The Royal Oman Police announced the visa suspension with immediate effect without specifying the reason. The Middle Eastern country also suspended converting all tourist and visit visas to work visas for all nationalities.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that the government is engaged in discussions with Oman to address the suspension of visa issuance to Bangladeshi nationals. “The decision came suddenly. It could be a very temporary measure. We have talked to our ambassador”.

The writer is a senior journalist