What is actually going on regarding 'Manpower Export'?
The business competition of the foreign Manpower Export sector in Bangladesh is now unnecessarily becoming an antagonism. And everyone related to this thinks that this unfortunate enmity is a sign of a disaster for the entire foreign Manpower Exporting sector.
After becoming unable to compete a group is now creating a sultry situation by submitting baseless complaints at the ministry against an established recruiting agency. And the entire foreign Manpower Exporting sector is being affected by this.
In this regard Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister, Nurul Islam BSC told that If anyone truly wants then complaints which already has been settled can be re-investigated too. If the allegations won't prove then we will do all kinds of co-operation too with recruitment permission. This applies to everyone. There is nothing to get panic here.
One of the leading organization in 'Manpower Export' in our country is Career Overseas Consultants Limited. In this way, it is also one kind of a victim of a business opponent's negative tactical campaigning.
In the year of 2014 Carrier Overseas sent 180 workers to Iraq. At that point of time, there was an accusation in the way of sending workers to Iraq which was later investigated by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and Bangladeshi Embassy in Iraq. After no irregularities were proved in separate investigations in 2015 and 2016, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and every person inlaid with it had been confirmed about this through a letter from the Ministry.
Even though several investigations were done by the Ministry in the past against some career recruiting agencies still those expelled complaints are dragging in front anonymously and charging over again recently. During the conversation, an expert in Manpower Exporting said that since it's normal to investigate a complaint if received that's why the Expatriate Welfare Ministry is also investigating those anonymous complaints. Because of this, Government's recruitment permission for Manpower Exporting is kind of stopped now. This is affecting the entire Manpower Exporting sector.
President of the Manpower Exporters association BAIRA Benzir Ahmed said that If the expelled investigation is to investigate again then the allegation must need to be specified too. Not only this the complainant needs to be specified too. Someone who is indefinite just can't be a delator. He further said that, It would be difficult to maintain this market in this way. If someone gets a visa or a visa gets spoiled or if the Government doesn't give any permission then there is absolutely nothing to do. Thousands of visa already got stuck.
According to the sources of the Manpower Exporters Association BAIRA, Bangladesh is now exporting Manpower to Malaysia through the G2G plus contract between Malaysian and Bangladeshi Government. Workers are being sent to Malaysia privately through around ten recruiting agencies of the country. Career Overseas Consultants Limited is one of them. This company has been exporting Manpower to various countries of the world including the Middle East for quite a long time now. Saudi Arabia's Nasma Contracting Company, Al-Seyf Construction & Engineering Company, Al Harfi Food, Jamil Group are sending workers to different renowned organizations. Besides these Career Overseas have also worked with Midmak, Gulf Housing and Contracting in Qatar and Qatar Engineering and Contracting Company. Similarly, Under the G2G Plus contract, they are sending workers in Malaysia too with great proficiency.
In 2014, a human rights organization named 'Jessore Rights' complained to Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry against the Career Overseas Consultants Limited for sending workers to Iraq. During that time, Several reports were written in various newspapers over Career Overseas Consultants Limited mainly because of the negative campaigning of some NGO groups. But after a thorough investigation by the ministry, it was found that there was absolutely no involvement of Career Overseas in that allegation. Rather it was ensured that the career overseas was there for the welfare of the employees with the help of the Iraqi Embassy.
The year has not passed yet but that couldn't stop the group bringing forward that expelled complaint in front of the Ministry again. This time too the Ministry investigated the matter. After the investigation, on 28th January 2016, in a signed letter by the Senior Assistant Secretary of the Expatriate Welfare Ministry at that time Shova Shahnaz (Memorandum No. - 49.00.0000.101.11.028.15-70) it was then informed to the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and other people concerned with it that no irregularities or crime were proved against the recruiting agency Career Overseas Consultants Limited (RL-403) regarding sending workers to Iraq. Still, that organized cycle didn't stop. This year again that expelled complaint has been dragged in front through anonymous applications.
A reliable source related to BAIRA said that, those recruiting agencies who didn't get the opportunity to send workers in Malaysia became extremely jealous because of that and thus interrupting the whole process repeatedly. A portion of them is trying to block the activities of the recruiting agencies by complaining anonymously.
The entire Manpower Exporting sector is being affected by the tactics of renewing old allegations. Because of this recruitment approval of the concerned organizations are temporarily suspended. Sources of BAIRA told that so far there're more than two thousands working visas has been done. Employer organizations are pressing highly to send people. Someone who is willing to go abroad for employment that person too is awaiting with great hope. Nonetheless, because of the jealousy of an irrelevant cycle, a major part of this sector is affected massively. Also at the International Employment Market, negative ideas about Bangladesh are being created.
While searching for the right information it has been known that once upon a time Kuwait was a potential foreign employment market for Bangladesh. But that market is completely closed right now. In addition, Saudi Arabia's labor market is becoming smaller day by day.
Libya's door for the Bangladeshis is closed too. Iraq has almost shut their door too. Nevertheless, Bangladesh has achieved a huge amount of foreign exchange in the past from this highly potential Manpower Exporting sector.
The Malaysian market is now reinforced. But due to the ill-founded antagonistic attitude of some recruiting agencies in the name of competition, this market too seems to be limited or could be stopped at any time.
Through a reliable source of the Government, it is known that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is always in favor of sending more and more workers from Bangladesh to foreign markets. Most recently She didn't take the closure of the Kuwait's market in a good way. She thinks that Manpower Exporting in Malaysia should increase further. Regarding this, the concerned authorities think that if the related people won't take it very seriously then any third party could take advantage of this.
Eminent Economist and former Vice-Chancellor of Presidency University Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mahbub Ali said that Manpower Market of Malaysia is open now.
In this way, if you can temporarily damage someone then the entire Manpower Exporting sector face losses. For that everyone concerned with it must be more careful.