Expats’ return from KSA: Govt to take action against recruiting agencies

The government will take stern actions against recruiting agents for their irregularities in sending Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia that is deporting thousands of migrants though they had valid work permits.

“We have collected the identities of a number of migrants who returned home recently. We want to see which agents have sent them and how. We are trying to find out the irregularities. If found, we will take stern actions. No one will be spared,” said Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Imran Ahmad.

The warning comes as it became a matter of concern that about 17,000 Bangladeshi workers were deported by Saudi Arabia in the first ten months this year.

Lately, a total of 173 migrants were deported by Saudi Arabia on Saturday, according to Brac Migration Programme.

Most of them alleged that they had valid visas and that they now face financial hardships as they spent Tk 3 lakh to Tk 4 lakh to go abroad, but could not recoup it.

Officials concerned said many times the manpower brokers and recruiting agents send the workers to the Middle Eastern countries with so-called “free visas”, alluding that they can work on their own and earn higher wages – which is actually illegal.

According to Saudi law, it is illegal for any foreigner to work for a company that did not hire him/her. Minister Imran Ahmad hinted that the recruiting agents or manpower brokers might be involved in such “free visa” business.

“We will have zero tolerance against any irregularities,” he told journalists at a press conference at the ministry conference hall.