Dhaka –Saudi Arabia has lifted the ban on workers recruitment from Bangladesh, media reports in the kingdom said on Thursday.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Development lifted the ban imposed six years ago. The kingdom only allowed Bangladeshi house assistant to work in the country.

Bangladesh Ambassador Golam Moshi told Arab News that it was a welcome gesture and prospective workers from his country would get the opportunity.

The opening of the recruitment channels from Bangladesh is resulted from the meeting between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in June, said the diplomat.

The new decision would pave the way for all categories of Bangladeshi workers which include skilled, unskilled, professionals such as doctors, nurses, teachers, farm and construction workers.

“We are thankful to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for allowing us to resume recruitment,” Moshi said, adding that the Kingdom has always expanded its help and cooperation to Bangladesh.

Currently, there are some 60,000 female domestic helps among the 1.3 million Bangladeshi workers in the Kingdom.

“Visas for male domestics were issued only from June, and there is a sizable number coming into the Kingdom regularly,” he said, adding that 6,000 female workers on average are arriving in the Kingdom per month.

“We have around 48 categories of workers serving in all parts of the Kingdom,” the official added.

In January, Minister of Labor Mufrej Al-Haqabani and Bangladesh Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Islam took decision to increase the number of Bangladeshi housemaids.

Both ministers made agreement to enhance cooperation in the manpower sector by addressing issues to reduce migration cost, imparting training to Saudi-bound workers, and recruiting more male workers for mutual benefits.

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