Fake work permits jeopardise Bangladeshi workers’ future in Europe

Bangladesh’s labor market in two Eastern European countries — Serbia and North Macedonia — is under threat due to visa applications being submitted with fake work permits.

Recently, the embassies of both countries have detected the use of fraudulent work permits in visa applications. As a result, they have stopped issuing work permits to Bangladeshi workers.

The embassies have warned that if such fraud continues, they may completely suspend visa issuance for Bangladeshis.

According to diplomatic sources, around 90% of the work permits submitted by Bangladeshi visa applicants to the North Macedonian embassy have been found to be fake. The same situation exists in Serbia.

Both countries have not issued any work permits to Bangladeshis for the past two months. Yet, fake work permits continue to be used in new visa applications. If this continues, the two nations may impose a full ban on work visas for Bangladeshis soon.

Recently, North Macedonian police arrested four members of a Bangladeshi human trafficking gang. Two of them are from Brahmanbaria and one from Sylhet.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of the country’s National Security Council, where it was decided that the arrested traffickers would either be imprisoned or deported after trial.

Meanwhile, the embassies of Serbia and North Macedonia have reported that fake work permits are being used in visa applications. In addition, a fraudulent group has been creating counterfeit Serbian visa stickers, deceiving both workers and authorities.

These fraudsters are extorting large sums of money from job seekers while jeopardizing Bangladesh’s labor market abroad.

To send someone abroad on a worker visa, it is mandatory to have a work permit, visa, and a Smart Card issued by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). Fraud rings first create fake work permits and apply for visas. When those visa applications are rejected, they produce counterfeit visa stickers and attach them to passports. They then obtain BMET Smart Cards for the fake visas and send travelers to various European destinations with flight tickets. However, most of these individuals are stopped at immigration due to the fake visas.

Reports show that these fraud groups target expatriate Bangladeshis in the Middle East and other countries through social media, luring them with promises of high-paying jobs and a better life.

One victim, Majedul Islam, said: “Last May, I applied online for a worker visa to Serbia. My application was on the waiting list for a long time. Recently, the agency changed the password for my application ID. Until then, it was still pending. Now, the agency claims they’ll provide approval and a sticker visa within a month.”

According to authorities, this is pure fraud. The visa was never approved because it was based on a fake work permit. Now, the fraudsters are trying to extort money by issuing fake approval letters and visa stickers.

When contacted, Slobodan Uzunov, the North Macedonian ambassador in New Delhi (also accredited to Bangladesh), said: “For the last two months, North Macedonia has not issued any work permits to Bangladeshis. Yet, some dishonest groups are continuously applying with fake permits. If this situation does not change, we will soon stop issuing visas to Bangladeshi citizens altogether.”