The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has said they want to streamline the recruitment process with "fairness and transparency" as the Kingdom is committed to ensuring that Bangladeshi workers continue to be "valued and integral members" of Saudi Arabia’s labour market.
"Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to strengthening this vital cooperation. As part of this commitment, we aim to streamline the recruitment process, ensuring fairness and transparency for both workers and employers," a spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development told UNB.
He said Bangladeshi expatriates have been an integral part of Saudi Arabia's workforce for decades, bringing their skills and dedication to a range of sectors in the Saudi labor market.
Their contributions complement the local workforce, fuelling the Kingdom’s development and enriching their social fabric, said the spokesperson.
Today, he mentioned, Saudi Arabia is home to over two million Bangladeshi expatriate workers and they deeply value the contributions they bring to their society.
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"We are fully committed to protecting their welfare, upholding their rights, and offering them wide-ranging opportunities to develop and grow their careers," said the spokesperson.
The Labor Reform Initiative (LRI) of 2021 marked a significant milestone in this commitment, aimed at creating a more transparent, fair, and equitable labor market, said the Saudi government.
By promoting job mobility and enhancing contractual relationships, the KSA said, the LRI has empowered expatriate workers across the Kingdom, setting new standards in the labor sector.
The Wage Protection System (WPS) plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the financial rights of workers by electronically tracking and ensuring the timely payment of wages in line with agreed contracts.
The system applies strict penalties to employers who fail to comply," said the Spokesperson.
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The WPS is now fully operational across all establishments, covering even those with as few as one employee, providing a comprehensive layer of protection for both Bangladeshi workers and the broader expatriate workforce.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan, during his recent meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin in Dhaka recalled the invaluable contributions of Bangladeshi expatriate workers to the Saudi economy and society, praising them as diligent and hardworking.
The Saudi Embassy in Dhaka is issuing a good number of visas every day, which is adding up to the workforces employed in Saudi Arabia.
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The Ambassador expressed eagerness to recruit more workers, especially skilled and trained workforce to support its ambitious initiatives like ‘Green Saudi Initiative’ and mega projects under the Kingdom Vision 2030.
Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia underscored the necessity of maintaining continuous engagement between the two governments, including political consultations and the high-level Joint Economic Commission (JEC) as well as the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) on Manpower between the two countries.