Bangladesh faces tough road ahead in expatriate labor market recovery

ByEnigma 808

Bangladesh faces mounting challenges in foreign labor markets despite sending 813,000 workers abroad through legal channels between January and September this year. Nine traditional destination countries remain closed to Bangladeshi expatriates more than one year after Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus took office, while Saudi Arabia has introduced stricter skill certification requirements.

The Saudi kingdom accounts for 68 percent of Bangladesh’s migrant workforce, but now mandates Takamul certificates for all worker categories at $50 per examination. Former BAIRA official Mohammad Fakhrul Islam expressed disappointment that the interim government has failed to reopen any closed markets or secure new destinations despite initial expectations.

A Japanese cell established to place 100,000 workers over five years has sent only 962 people in nine months. Malaysia’s plan to accept 7,869 shortlisted Bangladeshi workers by December 31 faces obstacles as employers have not issued demand letters.

Markets in the UAE, Malaysia, and Oman closed under the previous administration, remain inaccessible to Bangladeshi job seekers.

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    Besides writing and being a content creator, Enigma 808 sometimes likes to watch paint dry on walls, listening to ASMR while timing snails racing. Such is life.