June Sees 13pc Drop in Manpower Export as Saudi Hiring Dips

Representational photo

Overseas employment, a vital lifeline for Bangladesh’s economy, experienced a notable decline in June 2025, with the number of outbound workers dropping by 13% compared to the previous month. Official data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) revealed that 91,734 workers found jobs abroad in June, a significant fall from 105,213 in May.

This downward shift has raised concerns among labour market analysts and recruiters, especially considering the dramatic surge in May, when manpower exports had more than doubled from April’s figure of 49,983. That surge had been driven largely by a strong rebound in recruitment by Saudi Arabia, the largest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers.

Saudi Arabia alone hired 64,500 Bangladeshi workers in June, retaining its top position among all destination countries. However, this was a slight drop from the 69,561 workers recruited in May, and significantly lower than the 80,663 recruited in March. The volatility in the Saudi labour market is now being closely watched by policymakers.

The June data paints a mixed picture across other destinations. Bangladesh sent 7,339 workers to Qatar, 5,712 to Singapore, 3,644 to the Maldives, and 2,629 to Kuwait. A smaller number were deployed to countries such as the UAE (1,152), Italy (670), Japan (112), Cyprus (554), Cambodia (382), Kyrgyzstan (1,405), Brazil (107), and the UK (only 12 workers). These figures reflect the narrowing options for Bangladeshi migrants amid changing immigration policies and tighter regulations abroad.

The slowdown in Saudi Arabia’s recruitment is widely linked to a mandatory attestation rule imposed by the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh. Enforced since late January, the requirement mandates that single visa holders must have their demand letters attested before departure. The move is part of a broader initiative to prevent illegal migration and ensure that workers travel with verified job offers.

While the government insists the policy is necessary under the Foreign Employment and Migration Act 2013, recruiting agencies argue that the process is overly bureaucratic and slows down the entire migration pipeline. “We need streamlined procedures to maintain the momentum in labour export,” one recruiter noted, pointing to the backlog of visas that remain pending due to procedural hurdles.

The embassy, however, has introduced a digital attestation system to improve processing efficiency and reduce delays. It argues that the stricter policy was introduced following increasing reports of Bangladeshi workers returning early from Saudi Arabia due to poor working conditions or lack of proper job arrangements.

Beyond Saudi Arabia, the situation in Malaysia continues to pose challenges for Bangladeshi workers. The Malaysian labour market, once a major destination, has remained closed since June 2024 amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement in recruitment processes. However, a diplomatic effort is underway to resolve the issue.

Chief Adviser to the interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus, is expected to visit Malaysia in August at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. During the visit, Dr Yunus is likely to urge the Malaysian authorities to reopen the labour market and ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers.

Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister, Steven Sim, recently emphasised that foreign worker recruitment must be based on sectoral needs, not profit motives. A Joint Working Group (JWG) between the two countries is being reactivated to enhance cooperation and oversee ethical recruitment practices.

In contrast to Malaysia’s closed doors, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is making positive moves. Following a series of high-level meetings, the UAE Embassy in Dhaka has resumed issuing 30–50 visit visas daily. Additionally, it has restarted its online skilled visa processing system, issuing visas for professionals like marketing managers, hotel staff, and security guards. Over 500 visas have been granted recently, and another 1,000 are approved and awaiting issuance.

These developments offer a glimmer of hope for Bangladesh, but sector insiders remain wary. The country’s continued overreliance on Saudi Arabia, which in March accounted for 57% of total overseas job placements, poses a serious risk. The sharp decline in April—when Saudi Arabia hired only 28,671 workers—highlighted the dangers of depending on a single market.

To build long-term resilience in the labour migration sector, the government is now turning its attention to skills development, especially in underprivileged and climate-vulnerable regions. In Koyra upazila of Khulna, a region bordering the Sundarbans, BMET recently organised a grassroots event on Human Resource Development and Safe Migration.

At the event, BMET Additional Director General Md. Ashraf Hossain lamented that despite Khulna being the third-largest city, it lags behind in overseas employment. He noted that four technical training centres exist in the region but are underutilised. He stressed that many unskilled workers are being exploited abroad, often facing low wages, poor job security, and even termination.

Community leaders and educators present at the event echoed his concerns. They highlighted the need for ICT training, language education, and better primary schooling to create a skilled workforce ready for international employment. Madrasas, they pointed out, already provide instruction in Arabic and Urdu, which can be valuable in Middle Eastern job markets.

As global labour markets evolve amid political, economic, and regulatory changes, Bangladesh’s migration strategy must adapt quickly. Diversifying destination countries, enhancing skills training, streamlining recruitment processes, and protecting workers' rights are all critical if the country wants to sustain remittance inflow and improve the lives of millions who depend on migration.