No Exit Clearance for Workers to 12 Countries Without Ministry Permission, Letter Sent to BMET

The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has imposed restrictions on sending workers to 12 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. It has instructed that no exit clearance be issued for workers wishing to go to those countries without the ministry's recruitment permission or approval.

The letter was issued on Wednesday (November 4) from the ministry's Employment-3 branch. The letter, signed by ministry Deputy Secretary Gazi Md. Shahed Anwar, was sent to the Director General of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).

The 12 countries named in the letter are Serbia, Moldova, Belarus, Congo, Russia, Japan, Iraq, Laos, Vietnam, Croatia, Ukraine and Libya.

The letter said no exit clearance can be given for workers wishing to go to those countries without the recruitment permission or approval of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

The letter did not state a specific reason for tightening clearance issuance for the 12 countries. However, sources at the Expatriates' Welfare Ministry and BMET said the decision was taken to ensure workers' safety, prevent fraud and stop irregular migration.

Among the listed countries, Russia, Ukraine, Libya, Iraq and Congo are in war and political instability. In particular, there have been multiple complaints that Bangladeshi workers' lives have been put at risk in that region amid the Russia-Ukraine war situation. Similarly, Libya, Iraq and Congo have long carried risks of kidnapping, ransom demands and human trafficking.

On the other hand, broker gangs are alleged to be using Serbia, Moldova, Belarus, Croatia, Laos and Vietnam as human trafficking routes into Europe. In Serbia, Belarus and Croatia there are also incidents of workers being taken on promises of work permits and then crossed over borders into other countries, not being paid wages and having valid documents seized.

The complaints in Japan's case are different. There have long been complaints of workers going missing after going to the country on tourist or TITP (Technical Intern) visas, and of excessive migration costs. The government wants to bring this route under watch as well.

Relevant officials said the instruction was given to BMET to ensure that no recruiting agency can send workers to these 12 countries without the ministry's direct approval.