“Changes in worldwide occupation market will occur without any doubt, but changes might be less on account of Bangladesh ... In our learning that we take from the past pandemics, the focus should be to have a capable and fit manpower following the pandemic,” said Raquib Mohammad Fakhrul, President of Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI).

The BMCCI Web Talk Series, Session-5, titled ‘COVID-19 Impact On our Recruitment Sector and Our National Economy, was arranged with support from ROBI to discuss national and overseas employment during the post-Covid situation.

Fakhrul said Bangladesh economy is a resource economy as lion's share of the workforce live on the edge and their needs are of fundamental nature. Last global economic crisis likewise didn't influence Bangladesh economy much.

“Therefore, at present, our activities ought to be on sparing lives, containing the infection and ensuring the workforce is fit and dynamic after the crisis,” he said.

Fakhrul said the world has learned the need for health professionals in a hard way. So, the health sector will be booming. “A diploma in this sector might be an added advantage. Health workers will be exported worldwide as well,” he said.

Malaysia’s positive attitude

Noting that there are some 800,000 Bangladeshis in Malaysia, he said the Malaysian government’s has a positive attitude towards Bangladeshi workers working in Malaysia.

The Malaysian authorities asked the employers to pay wages to the workers, including migrants, though they remain in the dormitories and aren’t working to avoid risks of infection, said the BMCCI President.

Benjir Ahmed, MP, President of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), also took part in the session and thanked the BMCCI management for organising this virtual webinar on a vital issue like recruitment.

Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, secretary general of BAIRA, said Bangladesh has 482,535 registered workers in Malaysia and the country earned about US$ 16.4 billion overall remittance during 2018-19.

He said the government has taken initiatives to support the returnee expatriate workers in order to enable them to pursue viable economic activities, especially in the agriculture sector.

The BAIRA secretary general said the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment will also arrange loans up to Tk 5 lakh to Tk 7 lakh upon return of expatriate workers which will encourage them to be self-employed.

BMCCI Treasurer Syed Moinuddin Ahmed conducted the question answer session of the webinar.

BMCCI members, presidents of leading Chambers and Associations, bankers, government officials, business leaders and media personalities joined the programme, said a release.

Also read: BMCCI urges government to focus more on healthcare development