Bangladesh delays processing of domestic workers' visas

National recruitment offices have blamed the Bangladesh Ministry of Labour for delaying the processing of over 3,000 visas for housemaids already stamped by the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka, reports Saudi Gazette.

The female workers of Bangladesh are not showing interest to go to Saudi Arabia, citing low wage, sources at Bangladesh labour ministry told The Daily Star.

Quoting sources at recruitment offices in the Eastern Province, the Saudi daily said the Bangladesh Ministry of Labour is deliberately delaying the visa processing for housemaids because it is reportedly waiting for the beginning of recruitment of male Bangladeshi workers.

The sources said the Bangladeshi government is putting a condition that the issuance of visas for male workers should start before activating the agreement signed with the Kingdom on domestic workers.

The visas that are yet to be stamped by the Saudi embassy for the recruitment of Bangladeshi domestic workers exceed 30,000, the sources said.