Riyadh focussing on hiring skilled workers from Dhaka

Saudi Arabia has not stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshi nationals, but is focusing more on hiring skilled workers from Bangladesh, the foreign ministry and the Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh confirmed yesterday.
Officials have dispelled all rumours that created serious confusion among businesses and jobseekers willing to go to the Gulf country.
There is no reason for Bangladesh to be anxious about the ongoing crackdown against irregular workers in Saudi Arabia since it is part of the country's regular activities, they told The Daily Star.
However, they admitted the fact that Bangladesh's largest labour market has recently intensified its drive against those violating Saudi laws and values in the wake of increased social problems.
"Rumours were rife that Saudi Arabia has stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis," Bangladesh Ambassador to Riyadh Ikramul Haq told The Daily Star over telephone yesterday afternoon.
Those living and working in the Gulf nation with valid documents have nothing to be worried about for the intensification of police drives in the Kingdom, which has very close relations with Bangladesh, he said.
Expressing similar observations, Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain told The Daily Star the Saudi mission in Bangladesh was irked over media reports that the Kingdom has stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshi nationals.
"The Saudi Embassy in Dhaka has informed us that their computer server is malfunctioning and they are currently unable to issue visas. However, they're trying to manage issuing some visas manually," he said.
"The Saudi recruiters are staying in Dhaka and counting hotel rents for hiring workers from Bangladesh."
Asked if the Saudi government has decided to reduce the number of visas for Bangladeshi workers as reported by Saudi media, he said they sometimes issue more visas for a country in one year and less in another for making balance. It is not a matter of worry, he added.
On delay in Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury's planned visit to Saudi Arabia to hold talks on workers issue, Touhid Hossain said: "You have to understand the Saudi system... We should consider their favourable time..."
Ambassador Ikramul Haq said: "The Kingdom issued around 1.4 lakh visas for Bangladeshis in 2004, 0.8 lakh in 2005, 1.08 lakh in 2006 and 2.4 lakh in 2007. This means there are ups and downs. There is nothing to worry they decide to hire less workers from a country. It's sure, however, that Bangladesh can send more and more skilled workers."
The country has huge demands for nurses, doctors, masons, welders, pipe fitters, plumbers and IT professionals, he said, suggesting that Bangladesh focus on training more people on these professions for tapping the opportunities in Saudi labour market.
The Ambassador said the Bangladesh government must make sure that the workers are not forced to pay high cost.
Officials and industry insiders said some expatriate Bangladeshis indulge in crime and violate laws mainly because of low salaries and high migration cost.
"Due to low pay, some workers tend to do another job, which is not allowed by the Saudi laws," said an official.
Sometimes they also transfer their employees that become a matter of irritation for the employers as well as the Saudi government, he noted.