Skilled workers to be recruited in health, agri sectors

The government will create skilled workers for health and agriculture sectors to tap the overseas employment market in the post-coronavirus period.

To this effect, the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE) ministry has taken a decision in principle, said its minister Imran Ahmad at an inter-ministerial meeting on Thursday, according to a press release, issued by the ministry.

He said after the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for health and agriculture workers will increase in different job destination countries.

The minister informed that a step has also been taken to prepare the comprehensive database of the returnee migrants.

The EWOE minister presided over the virtual meeting on the agenda of labour migration in the coronavirus pandemic while foreign minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen joined there.

Mr Ahmad said they will emphasise on sending more skilled workers abroad in coming days to reduce the vulnerabilities of the migrants amidst the changed circumstances occurred due to spread of coronavirus globally.

He said that the government has already taken a plan to provide Tk 7.0 billion as loan for the returned migrant workers, impacted by novel coronavirus.

Besides, necessary steps have been taken to certify the Bangladeshi migrant workers' Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), he added.

Secretary of EWOE ministry Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen moderated the online meeting while civil aviation ministry's Senior Secretary Mohibul Haque and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen also joined the programme.