Here’s a shocking fact: nearly 100,000 Bangladeshis found jobs abroad in November alone, marking a 28% surge in overseas employment compared to the previous month. But here’s where it gets controversial—despite this impressive jump, the numbers are still 3% lower than last year. What’s driving this rollercoaster? The answer lies in Saudi Arabia’s backlog clearance after a contentious skills verification program slowed things down earlier this year. And this is the part most people miss: while Saudi Arabia recruited a whopping 64,605 workers last month, other major destinations like Qatar, Singapore, and Kuwait are still lagging behind. Why the disparity? Let’s dive in.
The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) reports that the November spike was fueled by Saudi Arabia’s efforts to clear a backlog of applications delayed by the Saudi Skill Verification Programme (SVP), also known as Takamul. This program, which made skills certification mandatory for low-skilled workers, had caused a significant slowdown earlier in the year. Now, with BMET ramping up its testing capacity, the backlog is gradually easing. For instance, in September alone, BMET conducted around 52,000 tests across 73 trades through its 26 authorized technical training centers.
But here’s the twist: Saudi Arabia, which hosts over 3.2 million Bangladeshi workers (mostly in low-skilled roles), recently relaxed its SVP requirements for certain jobs like cleaners—a move that came after direct requests from Bangladesh. This temporary relaxation has undoubtedly helped clear the backlog, but it raises questions: Is this a sustainable solution, or just a band-aid fix? And what does this mean for the long-term prospects of Bangladeshi workers abroad?
Meanwhile, remittances are soaring. In November, expatriates sent a staggering $2.89 billion back home, a 31% year-on-year jump. According to Bangladesh Bank, this is the third-highest remittance inflow this year, just behind October’s $2.56 billion. Bank officials attribute this rise to a decline in informal hundi operations and a more stable dollar rate. But is this growth here to stay, or is it just a temporary blip?
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: recruitment in other major destinations remains sluggish. Qatar, Singapore, the Maldives, and Kuwait collectively recruited fewer than 23,000 workers in November, while traditional markets like Malaysia, Oman, and Bahrain are still largely off-limits. Even European countries like Portugal and Italy, which recruited over 700 workers each last month, aren’t making up for the shortfall. Here’s the burning question: Why are these markets still struggling to attract Bangladeshi workers, and what can be done to revive them?
As we wrap up, consider this: With over 80% of Bangladeshi workers abroad in low-skilled jobs, earning around Tk30,000 per month, the stakes are high. Is the current system serving them well, or is it time for a rethink? We’d love to hear your thoughts—do you think the temporary relaxation of SVP requirements is a step in the right direction, or is it just kicking the can down the road? Share your opinions in the comments below!
