Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have explored ways to enhance manpower export and recognise Bangladeshi workers’ skills during a high-level meeting in Geneva.
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury held discussions with Saudi Vice-Minister for International Affairs Tariq bin Abdul Aziz on the sidelines of the 356th Governing Body session of the International Labour Organization (ILO), according to an official handout received on Wednesday in Dhaka.
During the meeting, Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury requested that Saudi Arabia increase recruitment of Bangladeshi workers and formally recognise locally acquired skills.
He also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and thanked the Kingdom for safeguarding Bangladeshi expatriates amid recent Middle East tensions.
The delegation included Prime Minister’s Adviser on Labour, Employment and Education Mahdi Amin, Labour Secretary Md Abdur Rahman Tarafder, and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to Geneva Ambassador Nahida Sobhan.
Saudi officials expressed willingness to hire more skilled Bangladeshi workers, acknowledging their significant contribution to the Kingdom’s development. Both sides highlighted the importance of strengthening technical training, upgrading vocational centres, and expanding Arabic language training for prospective migrants.
The Saudi vice-minister also invited Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury to visit Saudi Arabia, reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to deepening bilateral labour cooperation and enhancing opportunities for Bangladeshi workers abroad.
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