[ALOCHONA] Middle East Labour: Recruiting agents blamed

Recruiting agents, middlemen blamed for labour crisis in KSA
Courtesy New Age 6/3/08

 

An ‘unholy nexus’ between the local recruiting agencies and the middlemen in Saudi Arabia heightens the crisis of Bangladeshis in the Arab nation, said a report of the Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia.

‘Such unscrupulous agents with the help of Saudi middlemen compelled the Bangladeshi citizens to get involved in illegal activities as they did not get the jobs they are earlier promised,’ the report said, according to sources in the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry.

The March 3 report sent to Dhaka suggested taking stern action against such recruiting agents.

The Bangladesh mission report, however, has emphasised improving the working relations with the Saudi foreign and labour ministries and local law enforcement agencies to address the problems of the Bangladeshis in the kingdom.

Further job prospect of Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia hangs in balance, beginning in January, as the kingdom is trying to maintain the recruitment process for foreigners by keeping the workforce ‘balanced’ and the number of crimes committed by Bangladeshis is rising.

According to statistics available with the Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia, some 1.75 million Bangladeshis are working in the kingdom.

Referring to recent media campaign in the Arab nation against Bangladeshi, the mission also suggested improving relations with the local media.

It said some illegal activities of Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia created an image crisis and the local authorities increasingly became dissatisfied about Bangladeshi workers.

The report said Bangladeshi recruiting agents with the support of the local middlemen bribe Saudi employers and authorities for work permit and other documents to allure people for jobs in the kingdom.

‘On reaching Saudi Arabia, ill-fated Bangladeshis find themselves cheated and are compelled to do anything, legal or illegal, for living as they pay some Tk 3 lakh each for overseas job,’ the mission report said.

A recent statement of the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry said a small group of Bangladeshis in recent times had violated laws by stealing, selling pornographic materials and foreign currencies.

The misdeeds of such a small group threaten the job prospect of Bangladeshis in the largest manpower destination of the country and drew attention of the local media.

 

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