Govt to give CIP status to international recruiting agents

Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry has framed a policy to recognise recruiting agents as the Commercially Important Person (CIP) for their contribution to overseas employment.

The ministry issued a gazette notification on August 25 in this regard. 

As per the policy, the government would annually recognise 20 recruiting agents with CIP (overseas employment) for two years term in recognition of their significant contribution to the country's economy through safe, regular, quality and responsible immigration activities.

Of them, three CIPs will be reserved for women entrepreneurs. Besides, the incumbent president and secretary of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) will be selected CIPs as ex-officio.

For the selection of a recruiting agent as CIP (Overseas Employment), the activities of the previous two years will be evaluated.

Benefits

They will get a government-approved identity card from the ministry, can enter the secretariat and can be included as a member in the policymaking committee of the ministry.

They will be invited to attend important national and international events, including Victory Day and Independence Day and other national days.

The CIPs will get priority in the reservation of seats in air, rail, road and watercraft and they will get cabin facilities at government hospitals for the treatment of their wife, son, daughter and themselves.

Besides, they will get the benefit of using VIP Lounge-2 and special handling at the airport.

However, the government can withdraw the benefits provided as CIP issuing a gazette showing no reason at any moment.

The selection procession of CIP will be completed between January 1 and October 15.

ALI Haider Chowdhury, former secretary general of BAIRA, said it was their long-standing demand.

"We are currently feeling honoured. As a result, those who work in this sector will be encouraged. They will go into more ethical competition," he said.

The CIP status was given in this sector for the last time until 2001, he added.