Bangladesh sending workers to Seychelles sans cost

Bangladesh has started sending workers to Seychelles without any migration cost, creating a good opportunity for overseas jobseekers.

So far, about 200 workers went to the country under the government to government (G2G) agreement that was signed between the countries in 2019, officials said.

Although the recruitment remained halted for the time being because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the East African nation started hiring workers from Bangladesh last month.

Around 25 new workers went to the country in August. On the other hand, 96 workers - who came home on vacation - also left for Seychelles in the same flight.

Approximately 10,000 Bangladeshi workers have job opportunities in the island country, said officials at the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET).

Talking to the FE, BMET Director General Shahidul Alam said as per the deal, the BMET and the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) would send workers to Seychelles.

The employers concerned would bear all the recruitment charges. So, the workers need not pay any migration cost, he mentioned.

The BMET chief also said Seychelles is a small country, but its facilities and working environment are good for foreign workers.

"If we could work properly, nearly 10,000 workers would get employment opportunities there."

Bangladeshi workers are being recruited in hotel tourism, agriculture and construction sectors. They are earning US$ 500 or more than Tk 40,000 each a month, according to him.

Officials at the Bangladesh labour wing for Seychelles said about 25,000 Bangladeshis are currently working in that country.

Bangladeshis started securing jobs in the country much ahead of signing the G2G deal. They went there with the help of their friends and relatives.

Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. The population is around 100,000 in the country.

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