Singapore, Romania to recruit 12k Bangladeshis: FM

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said Singapore and Romania would recruit 10,000 and 2,000 Bangladeshis respectively soon.

"These are new avenues which are good news for us," he told reporters at his ministry office in the capital.

Mentioning that Bangladesh has opened its mission in Romania recently, Momen said recruitment of around 2,000 Bangladeshis was completed in various phases and the country would recruit another 2,000.

"Romania will recruit Bangladeshis for the Halal meat processing units," he said, adding that the country exports Halal meat to other countries.

The minister said the government became worried seeing the impact of Covid-19 on Bangladeshi workers abroad, but things are turning positive amid their efforts. "We have been working in various ways for creating employment for Bangladeshis."

He said the Bangladesh mission in Singapore is working beyond its capacity by issuing 500 visas every day as it issues the work permit for Bangladeshi workers in Singapore.

About female workers, Momen said the government believes in equality between men and women. "So, it's difficult to accept the demand to stop sending female workers abroad."

He said all must work together for the protection of female workers at the workplaces. Female workers send 90 percent of their income to home which is not seen in case of men, the minister added.

He said the recent tough steps taken by the Saudi Arabian government to prevent harassment of women would help decrease the number of crimes against the female workers.