The uncertain UAE labour market for Bangladeshis

The government must continue to hold state-to-state level meetings in this regard

Since the 1980s, Bangladesh has been an increasingly important source country in international flows of contract labour migration. The lucrative destinations for Bangladeshi migrants so far have been the Arab Gulf states, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). However, amid repeated setbacks the labour market in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladeshi workers still continues to be confined within mere optimism. Also the government since the imposing of the ban in 2012 could achieve little or no progress in this regard. 
The oil rich Gulf nation has stopped issuance of visas for all Bangladeshis since October 2012 because of mounting problems regarding fake travel documents, forged passports following other irregularities. The sudden stoppage following a series of past discontents has indisputably hit our migrant workers hard. Even the PM’s visit to the Gulf state in 2014 could not break the ice of disgruntlement of the UAE authorities. This, however, doesn’t mean we should stop pursuing opportunities for resolving the continuing deadlock. 
The only ray of hope of reopening was recorded from our expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister’s last meeting with the UAE labour minister held in last December. He was assured that the market for Bangladeshi labour would reopen sometime soon. Therefore, our concerned manpower exporting authorities mustn’t sit idle while banking on the UAE minister’s verbal assurance. 
The government must continue to hold state-to-state level meetings in this regard. Coupled with private recruiting agencies it must also continue to discuss and explore newer avenues for reopening this money-spinning destination for exporting our labour force. Recruiting agencies have been reported to have said that the government wasn’t doing enough to make the reopening of Bangladesh’s second largest labour market in the Middle East. Furthermore, they said that if no progress is made right away, Bangladeshi workers will lose the opportunities created ahead of World Expo 2020. The EXPO will require a huge infrastructure and it is exactly for this reason all efforts should be spared. 
More to it, Bangladesh’s sudden preference over a Russian city for hosting the event is believed to have created some degree of disparity. 
Apart from reviving the market, we must remember that some 14 lakh Bangladeshi workers already work in the UAE, and they are extremely important as they are the second highest amount of remittance earners, after Saudi Arabia. The government through its expatriates’ welfare and diplomatic wings should leave no stone unturned, not only to renew previous manpower exporting contracts but also to ensure smooth and unimpeded work environment for all the Bangladeshis currently residing in the UAE.     

 

The uncertain UAE labour market for Bangladeshis

The government must continue to hold state-to-state level meetings in this regard

Since the 1980s, Bangladesh has been an increasingly important source country in international flows of contract labour migration. The lucrative destinations for Bangladeshi migrants so far have been the Arab Gulf states, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). However, amid repeated setbacks the labour market in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladeshi workers still continues to be confined within mere optimism. Also the government since the imposing of the ban in 2012 could achieve little or no progress in this regard. The oil rich Gulf nation has stopped issuance of visas for all Bangladeshis since October 2012 because of mounting problems regarding fake travel documents, forged passports following other irregularities. The sudden stoppage following a series of past discontents has indisputably hit our migrant workers hard. Even the PMs visit to the Gulf state in 2014 could not break the ice of disgruntlement of the UAE authorities. This, however, doesnt mean we should stop pursuing opportunities for resolving the continuing deadlock. The only ray of hope of reopening was recorded from our expatriates welfare and overseas employment ministers last meeting with the UAE labour minister held in last December. He was assured that the market for Bangladeshi labour would reopen sometime soon. Therefore, our concerned manpower exporting authorities mustnt sit idle while banking on the UAE ministers verbal assurance. The government must continue to hold state-to-state level meetings in this regard. Coupled with private recruiting agencies it must also continue to discuss and explore newer avenues for reopening this money-spinning destination for exporting our labour force. Recruiting agencies have been reported to have said that the government wasnt doing enough to make the reopening of Bangladeshs second largest labour market in the Middle East. Furthermore, they said that if no progress is made right away, Bangladeshi workers will lose the opportunities created ahead of World Expo 2020. The EXPO will require a huge infrastructure and it is exactly for this reason all efforts should be spared. More to it, Bangladeshs sudden preference over a Russian city for hosting the event is believed to have created some degree of disparity. Apart from reviving the market, we must remember that some 14 lakh Bangladeshi workers already work in the UAE, and they are extremely important as they are the second highest amount of remittance earners, after Saudi Arabia. The government through its expatriates welfare and diplomatic wings should leave no stone unturned, not only to renew previous manpower exporting contracts but also to ensure smooth and unimpeded work environment for all the Bangladeshis currently residing in the UAE.