Romania to recruit 40,000 foreign workers; Bangladesh to send more: Momen

Romania has decided to recruit around 40,000 foreign workers, paving the way for Bangladesh to send more workers to that country.  

"This is a new area. We've already sent around 1,000 workers. We can send more. They've (Romania) decided to recruit around 40,000 workers from abroad," Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Thursday while talking about his recent visit to Romania.

He said the Romanian government prefers government-to-government recruitment as they feel more comfortable recruiting people in a better-regulated way.

"There's no space for illegal entry there," said the Foreign Minister, adding that some 860 Bangladeshis entered Germany from Romania illegally.

These 860 people will be sent back to Bangladesh from Germany through International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The Foreign Minister said Romania needs construction workers, electricians, household helpers, workers in manufacturing units apart from doctors and nurses. 

"They'll (Romania) identify in which areas they need workers from Bangladesh and in which area we can provide," Dr Momen said, adding that they will have to follow it up to reach an understanding.

The Foreign Minister said around 300 Bangladeshi workers are waiting for the Romanian visas and it was raised with his Romanian counterpart.

Dr Momen said his Romanian counterpart assured him of sending a team from the New Delhi mission to provide emergency services and issue visas quickly.

The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh first opened its Mission in Romania in 1975 but it was shut in 1995 while Romania closed its Mission in 2000.

"We've reopened the Mission recently," he said, adding that "Romania will also consider reopening its Mission in Dhaka once the trade and investment ties expand further between the two countries".

Foreign Minister Momen invited his counterpart to visit Bangladesh along with a business delegation. The Romanian Foreign Minister happily accepted the invitation.

 "It's a very successful trip. I'm very pleased and in many ways, it was a historic visit, too," said the foreign minister.