Qatar has shown interest to recruit workers from Bangladesh in the security, hospitality and transport sectors during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
During a bilateral meeting with Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed in Doha, Qatari Labour Minister Ali bin Samikh Al Marri also said his country is eager to hire skilled and semi-skilled workers for its development projects after the World Cup.
The meeting discussed labour market development and expansion in Qatar, according to a message received here on Wednesday.
Imran said Bangladesh takes pride in Qatar being the first Muslim country to host the FIFA World Cup.
He also said Bangladesh would be happy to extend support to Qatar in successfully holding the mega event.
Bangladesh is keen to send the necessary workers for the World Cup, the minister added.
Ali said his country will need workers in the security, hospitality and transport sectors during the World Cup and showed interest to recruit workers from Bangladesh.
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Expressing interest in recruiting skilled workers from Bangladesh, he said, the recruitment of construction workers for development projects in Qatar will start in mid-2023.
Senior Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office Md Tofazzal Hossain Mia, who was present at the meeting, called upon the Qatari investors to invest in Bangladesh's special economic zone.
He requested the minister to bring a business delegation with him during his visit to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar M Jasim Uddin briefed Ali on the steps taken by the Embassy to create awareness among Bangladeshi workers and proposed to form a team consisting of the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Embassy to create awareness among Bangladeshi workers about Qatari laws and regulations.
The meeting also discussed holding the 6th Joint Committee meeting between Bangladesh and Qatar in Dhaka.
It was agreed that the joint committee meeting will be held in the next one or two months while Imran invited Ali to visit Bangladesh, which he heartily accepted.