In a major development, Saudi Arabia has decided to allow Bangladeshi workers to transfer their residence or work permit.
With nearly one-fourth of its expatriate workforce working in the oil-rich kingdom, Saudi Arabia is the largest manpower export destination for Bangladesh.
But since 2009, officials say manpower export to Saudi Arabia almost stopped as it restricted issue of Iqama transfer – residence permit or work permit transfer – for Bangladeshi nationals.
The decision came a week after Foreign Minister Dipu Moni’s meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister Salman Bin Abdulaziz who assured her of taking ‘necessary steps’ shortly.
Moni has also handed over a letter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed to the King Abdullah requesting him to allow transfer of Iqamas for Bangladesh workers.
The foreign ministry’s public relations officer Mohammad Monirul Islam Kabir told bdnews24.com that they would get formal letter by Sunday.
Bangladesh had been requesting the Saudi government to reopen its labour market for its workers and allow job transfer. But there had been no response from the Saudis until the assurance on May 4 during the Foreign Minister’s meeting with Saudi high officials in Jeddah.
Earlier, a Saudi team visited Bangladesh to check the migration process.
Source: Bd news24