Geneva, March 31:
Bangladesh has urged Saudi Arabia to increase recruitment of its workforce and recognize skills gained domestically. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury made the call during a meeting with Saudi Deputy Minister for International Affairs Dr. Tariq bin Abdul Aziz on the sidelines of the 356th Governing Body session of the International Labour Organization in Geneva.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Labour, Employment and Education Mahdi Amin, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative in Geneva Nahida Sobhan, and Labour Secretary Md. Abdur Rahman Tarafder.
The Saudi deputy minister appreciated Bangladesh’s continued support at the ILO and acknowledged the vital role of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia’s economy. He expressed willingness to recruit more skilled workers from Bangladesh.
Minister Chowdhury also conveyed concern over the recent Middle East situation and thanked the Saudi government for ensuring the safety of Bangladeshi workers.
Discussions emphasized enhancing technical training, expanding Arabic language education, and securing recognition of Bangladeshi skills to better meet Saudi labour market demands. Mahdi Amin called for stronger cooperation, including upgrading technical training institutes with Saudi support.
The Saudi side invited the minister to visit the Kingdom. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the labour sector.
Source: Bangladesh Embassy, Geneva
