Dhaka urges Riyadh to reduce expired-iqama cases

The request was put forward during a meeting in Riyadh between Dr. Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Nasser Abdulaziz Al-Jarid, Chairman of the Saudi National Committee of Workers Committees.

Bangladesh stressed the need for timely issuance and renewal of iqamas, noting that many workers arrive in Saudi Arabia without receiving the promised job, salary or residency permit on time.

To address these issues, Bangladesh proposed creating a dedicated recruitment management platform—similar to Saudi Arabia’s Musaned—for general workers. It also suggested mandatory signing and electronic acceptance of QIWA contracts in Bangladesh before workers depart, along with pre-visa verification of employers’ credibility to ensure job guarantees, timely pay and iqama renewal.

Bangladesh expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s online final-exit system but requested a time-bound mechanism for processing exit permits, system integration with its expatriates’ department, and priority handling for workers facing health emergencies.

Both sides discussed jointly preparing a Bangla-language guidebook on workers’ rights and obligations, Saudi labour culture, workplace ethics, legal support, and emergency contacts. Bangladesh further called for adding Bangla-language options across key Saudi digital services, including labour, residency, health, transport, remittance and complaint platforms.

On repatriation of deceased workers with expired iqamas, Bangladesh proposed mandatory repatriation at the sponsor’s expense if the employment relationship was active. Discussions are also underway on waiving or recovering medical expenses for expired-iqama workers who remain under active employment.