Published on 12:00 AM, May 26, 2021

Saudi-Bound Expats: Govt to give them cash support

Saudi expatriate Mohammad Rana waits outside the office of Saudia Airlines in the capital’s Karwan Bazar yesterday to confirm his trip. Like him, many other expatriates bound for the Gulf country were not sure whether they would be able to fly as they were asked to book a hotel room there for quarantine. Rana had booked his return to Saudi Arabia on a midnight flight tonight. Photo: Prabir Das
Rashidul Hasan

With the Saudi-bound Bangladeshi workers enduring immense sufferings following a travel advisory by the kingdom, officials at the expatriates' welfare ministry yesterday said the ministry decided in principle to provide cash support to the migrant workers under financial strain.

Seeking anonymity, a top official of the ministry told this newspaper that an inter-ministerial meeting will be held on May 30 to discuss the issues relating to the Saudi-bound workers and decide on how to provide them with financial help.

Ministry sources said the agenda will include exorbitant airfares to the Middle East countries, vaccination of workers going abroad and institutional quarantine of workers upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.

The official mentioned that they already wrote to the civil aviation and tourism ministry to offer "special airfares" to the migrant workers to lessen their financial burden in going to the Middle East countries.

Around 6,500 migrant workers were thrown into uncertainty about joining work in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom on May 10 issued a travel advisory effective from May 20 for a number of countries, including Bangladesh.

According to the advisory, migrant workers have to spend an additional Tk 60,000-Tk 70,000 for 7-day institutional quarantine in Saudi Arabia if they aren't vaccinated.

The workers must have medical insurance for Covid-19 and hotel reservations for institutional quarantine, it mentioned.

The Saudi authorities said the violators of the rules will be deported and banned from entering the country.

Following the fresh travel advisory, Bangladesh Biman suspended all its 18 weekly fights to Saudi Arabia for nine days from May 20, saying it needs time to make arrangements to comply with the travel advisory.

The national flag carrier is yet to complete the arrangements.

Sources at the expatriates' welfare ministry said the ministry is trying its best to help the migrant workers from the Wage Earners Welfare Fund.

"We are trying to figure out how much we will be able to provide them from the fund," a high-up of the ministry told The Daily Star yesterday.

"We want to provide cash assistance. But we need to figure out who will get it and how," the official added.

Different recruiting agencies have already written to the ministry, seeking support to address the problems of the migrant workers.

On May 23, Recruiting Agency Friends Associates (RAFA) and Sommilito Somonnoy Front separately wrote to the expatriates' welfare minister, seeking financial support for the Saudi-bound workers to help them cover the expenses of institutional quarantine in the Kingdom and Covid-19 tests.

In its letter, RAFA said the recruiting agencies and the workers have already been affected badly by the huge hike in airfares.

Saudi Arabia is the largest manpower export market for Bangladesh. At least 26 lakh expatriates are working in different sectors in the kingdom.

EXTENSION OF VISAS, IQAMAS

Citing a royal order, the Saudi Press Agency has reported that the validity of iqamas (residency permits), exit and re-entry visas, as well as visit visas of expatriates who are currently stuck in countries facing travel ban, will be extended till June 2 free of cost.

The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has confirmed that the extension will be made automatically in cooperation with the National Information Centre, according to a report of the Saudi Gazette.

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