100,000 Bangladeshis to get jobs in Malaysia in three months
September 12, 2008
Over 100,000 Bangladeshis are expected to leave Dhaka with jobs for Malaysia by next three months, foreign adviser said Friday.
“We have come to know that a further 100,000 Bangladeshis will be able to leave Dhaka with jobs for Malaysia this year,” foreign adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told the FE.
Dr. Chowdhury is also in-charge of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
He said the South East Asian country, which is one of the premier destinations for Bangladeshi overseas job seekers, has already emerged as a key source of inward remittances for the country.
The foreign adviser said inflow of inward remittances from Bangladeshis in Malaysia has set a record in the last fiscal as manpower export to the country increased in the recent years.
In 2007-08, Dhaka received a record $92.44 million worth of remittances from over half a million Bangladeshis living and working in Malaysia. The amount was $11.8 million in 2006-07.
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Oman-Bangladesh MoU on manpower
August 27, 2008
MUSCAT — Oman and Bangladesh have concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on manpower cooperation and an agreement to avoid double taxation following discussions here on Saturday between senior officials from the two countries.
Dr Juma bin Ali bin Juma, Manpower Minister, who signed the MoU with Dr Iftikhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment in Bangladesh, said the deal encompassed the categories of manpower, specialised, skilled and semi-skilled workers, required by Oman’s labour market.
The taxation agreement, meanwhile, is aimed at avoiding double taxation on income generated from international air transportation. Juma said it sought to regularise taxes imposed by the two countries on national airline companies that operated international services.
Saud bin Nasser Al Shikaili, Secretary-General of Taxation at the Finance Ministry, said the accord would enhance bilateral trade and passenger and cargo traffic. The Sultanate has now signed 11 agreements with foreign countries for avoiding double taxation in the air transport sector.
Chowdhury said the pact would give a fillip to bilateral cooperation. Also on Saturday, the Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, Sayyid Fahad bin Mamhood Al Said, received the Bangladeshi official. The Deputy Premier expressed his satisfaction at the level of Oman-Bangladesh relations, and the two sides agreed to step up these links further, especially in the economic sector with the active participation of private sectors in both countries. Chowdhury said Bangladesh was keen to expand ties with Oman, adding that the two new agreements would open up ‘new horizons’ of cooperation.
Source: Khaleej Times
Russia looks to Bangladesh for garment expertise
July 20, 2008
First batch of skilled worker expect to leave in next two months
Skilled Bangladeshi textile workers are being hired to work in Russia, further evidence of Bangladesh’s growing status as a world leader in garment expertise.
Abdul Matin Chowdhury, secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, said 60 skilled workers will go to Russia in the first batch within the next two months. More could soon follow, he added.
Although garment industry leaders have previously complained of a shortage of skilled labour in Bangladesh, yesterday they welcomed the Russian initiative as proof of the strong development and international competitiveness of the local garment sector.
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7-point strategy to tap new manpower export market
January 29, 2008
The caretaker government announced a seven-point strategy to ensure the well-being of the Bangladeshi workers abroad and expand the manpower-export market worldwide by removing the prevailing hurdles, reports UNB.
Foreign and Overseas Employment Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Wednesday announced the strategy, which includes exploring new manpower-export markets in the Scandinavian, European and East European countries like Norway, Sweden and Romania.
The strategy includes extension of the existing markets in the Middle-East, including Libya, enhancing skills in the English language, exporting manpower from Monga-affected areas, ensuring proper utilisation of remittances, ensuring strong monitoring to check fraud in manpower export, and working together with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Migration Organisation (IMO).
Speaking at a press briefing at the Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, the adviser said the government has adopted the strategy as it believes that the country’s prime foreign currency earnings would come from the manpower-export sector.
During the briefing, Overseas Employment secretary Abdul Matin Chowdhury noted that until September last, a total of 8,830 Bangladeshi citizens were in prisons in different countries across the world, either in police custody or under remand. Of them, 1,930 were convicted.
Of the convicts, the highest 636 Bangladeshi nationals are in Saudi jails.
Iftekhar Chowdhury said the Malaysian government is yet to convey any decision about suspending recruitment of Bangladeshi workers. “But, despite that, everyday, on an average, about 700 workers are leaving for Malaysia and the government is working on the issue so that the market could be resumed,” he said.
The caretaker government would deal with the manpower-export business in the new manpower markets taking lesson from Malaysian incidents, he informed. He also said a South Korean delegation is arriving in Dhaka on December 9 to discuss manpower import from Bangladesh.
He noted that an agreement would be signed between the Korean HRD and Bangladesh’s state-owned recruiting agency Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Service Limited (BOESL).
“Korea will recruit about 3,000 workers. Those who are now in Korea will get priority in recruitment as they have command on Korean language,” he added.
The diplomat-turned Adviser said a total of 526,171 Bangladeshi workers have gone abroad for jobs since the present caretaker government assumed office in January 2007.
He informed that a total of 764,903 workers were issued outgoing permits in last 11 months, of which 2,38,000 were waiting to fly. “This figure is the highest in any time in the history.”
The country received US$ 5.78 billion (Tk 40,323 crore) in remittance until November 22. “If the trend continues, the remittance flow will exceed US$ 6 billion,” the Adviser said.
BSS adds: Iftekhar also said the government will also introduce a strict system to monitor manpower recruiting agencies so that none of them could cheat people seeking employment abroad. The government already took action against Kabir Enterprise, for wrongdoings, but its licence was yet to be cancelled, he informed adding that for their misconduct punitive action was also taken against some officials at the Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia.
The government, if required, would bring back the 49 Bangladeshis agitating in front of Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur as they did not get the jobs they were promised, he said replying to a question. The government was aware, he said, replying to a question, that some people were acting against Bangladesh’s interest in Malaysia.
Action would be taken against such elements in due course, he mentioned. The question of withdrawal of Malaysian ban on Bangladeshi manpower was being discussed by the two governments, he told a questioner.
Bangladeshi workers to join jobs in Feb: Korean envoy
January 29, 2008
Korean language tests essential for recruitement :
The South Korean ambassador in Dhaka, Suk-Bum Park, on Sunday observed that recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in his country depends on how authorities of Dhaka do the preparatory work.
?As we do not have any pre-determined quota for recruiting Bangladeshi nationals under the Employment Permit System, the number of workers we will take depends on how the BOESL deals with this,? he said after the signing ceremony at the lone public recruiting agency?s office.
In March South Korea officially announced that it would recruit 10,000 overseas workers from four countries ? Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Kyrgyzstan ? in the 2007-2008 period under the Employment Permit System.
A deal styled ?Service Commitment Agreement? was signed between the two countries for recruitment of Bangladeshi workers under Korea?s EPS for foreigners.
Mahbubur Rahman, managing director of the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Ltd, and Kim Yong Dal, president of the Human Resources Development under the Korean labour ministry, signed the agreement on behalf of their governments.
When he was asked when the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers would begin, the top Korean envoy said that it was too early to answer that question, but he hinted that the first batch of Bangladeshi workers would join their jobs in Korea by February.
Abdul Matin Chowdhury, expatriates? welfare and overseas employment secretary who was also present at the signing ceremony, said that the names of aspirant Bangladeshi workers who had passed the Korean language test would be sent to the HRD in Korea. Then the list of Bangladeshi nationals will be submitted to the Korean employers.
?The final selection depends on the Korean employers, said the secretary.
Association of Recruiting Agencies engaged in Manpower Export (BAIRA)
December 2, 2007
Association of Recruiting Agencies engaged in Manpower Export (BAIRA)
There are about seven hundred licensed private recruiting agents engaged in manpower export. They have association under the name and style of Bangladesh Association international Recruiting Agencies (BAI RA). BAIRA cooperates With the Ministry in implementing rules, regulation and directives of the Ministry. The present number of BAIRA members is 1028.
Aims and Objectives of BAIRA
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To promote and protect the rights and interests of the members of the association in particular and the trade, commerce and industries of Bangladesh in general;
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To promote, advise and assist in the business activities of the members of the association, to make all out efforts for providing Bangladeshis with job abroad;
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To co-ordinate the activities of the licensed recruiting agents approved by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for arranging employment’s of Bangladesh abroad and to create unity amongst the licensed recruiting agents;
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To develop an understanding and awareness of Government notification, rules and regulations regarding the overseas employment of manpower amongst the member recruiting agents;
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To advise Government to amend, alter or modify orders in this regard from time to time keeping the interest of the country;
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To take all steps by lawful means that may be necessary for promoting, supporting or opposing legislation or any other action effecting the general interests of member recruiting agents;
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To establish close and intimate liaison with foreign missions in Bangladesh with a view to provide employment of Bangladeshi citizens in their respective countries;
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To keep in touch with Bangladesh Embassies or other reliable agencies for creating job opportunities for Bangladeshi citizens in different countries;
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To invite delegations from countries having potential for employment of skilled and un-skilled Bangladeshi workers with a view to acquainting them with the vast hard working manpower available in Bangladesh, after getting prior permission form the Government;
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To assist Government and non-Government delegations coming to Bangladesh to select appropriate manpower by cultivating close liaison with them;
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To send delegation from the association abroad for creating proper awareness amongst the intending employers about skilled and un-skilled workers of Bangladesh;
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To print brochures, booklets and leaflets of skilled workers of Bangladesh and circulate these abroad with the help of Government;
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To make efforts to ensure distribution of all privileges and facilities to all member recruiting agents fairly and equitably;
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To distribute all offers received by the association for employment in the private and the public sectors equitably amongst the member-recruiting agents;
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To create association’s own Trade Institute in order to assist each and every member-recruiting agent appropriate and capable manpower;
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To establish association’s own training center to assist and offer training to all candidates selected for employment abroad on manners, customs and foreign languages etc;
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To assist all member-recruiting agents about rules, regulations, procedures, visa entry permits by procuring them from different countries and making them available to the members;
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To make all efforts and take all steps to remove difficulties and bottlenecks faced by the member-agents;
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To remove difficulties and inconveniences of the workers sent abroad by the member-recruiting agents ;
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To make efforts to remove complaints and misunderstanding amongst the foreign employers about manpower sent by member-recruiting agents;
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To maintain regular liaison by visits of responsible executives to overseas employers and their Bangladeshi employees;
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To organize welfare measures for the Bangladeshi workers abroad and their beneficiaries at home;
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To encourage the Bangladeshi workers working abroad for remit maximum of their foreign exchange earning to the country through regular official channels;
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To encourage and advise the Bangladeshi migrants abroad and their beneficiaries at home for investments of investments of their foreign exchanges in the productive pursuits in the country;
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To undertake initiatives for repatriation and payment of compensation to the persons wrongly selected and sent abroad;
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To provide assistance for bringing the dead body of Bangladesh workers to the country or for its proper disposal, as the case may be, in co-operation with foreign employers;
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To obtain labor laws of the labor importing countries and to disseminate the information of those laws among the Bangladeshi migrant workers;
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To fix annual target of business for each member agency and to help them to achieve the same;
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To monitor the monthly activities for the member agencies to the Ministry of Labor and Manpower, Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training and Bangladesh Manpower Planning Center through a proforma to be prepared by Bangladesh Manpower Planning Center;
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To submit annual report to the Ministry of Labor and Employment by each member agency dealing with their total activities during every calendar year.
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To report to Ministry, Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training and Bangladesh Manpower Planning Center the amount of fees actually charged from job seekers of various categories;
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To explore job market in different parts of the world in addition to the countries in the Middle East;
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To explore job opportunities for skilled and professional personnel as well;
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To set-up branch offices as an when required in different parts of the country & the globe with a view to fulfilling the aims and objects of the association;
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To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects
Bureau of Manpower, Employment & Training (BMET)
December 2, 2007
Bureau of Manpower, Employment & Training (BMET)
Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) was established in the year 1976 by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as an attached department of the then Ministry of Manpower Development and Social Welfare with specific purpose of meeting the manpower requirement of the country and for export of manpower as well. BMET is engaged for over all planning and implementation of the strategies for proper utilization of manpower of the country.
Presently BMET is under administrative control of Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. Bureau is performing all functions relating to migration process including licensing of recruiting agents. Through 14 (Fourteen) Technical Training Centers (T.T.C), 1 Institute of Marine Technology and 3 Apprenticeship Training Office BMET imparting training in different employable trades.
BMET Activities :
BMET is engaged in human resources development and to provide employment services both in country and also abroad. The functions can be summarized with the following main tasks:
- To monitor and control legal process of manpower export.
- To Look after the welfare of Bangladeshi workers abroad.
- To provide institution based vocational and technical training in different employable trades.
- To plan and implement development programs to conduct training activities.
- Conducting informal, formal and special training course.
- Coordinate Apprenticeship training.
- Processing of foreign demands for recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.
- Implementation of self-employment programs.
- Collection and dissemination of labour market information.
- Regulates private Recruiting Agents those recruit Bangladeshi workers for foreign employers.
- To increase legal remittance through banks and combat money laundering.
- To combat illegal trafficking and harassment for better image of Bangladesh.
- Registration of Job seekers for overseas employment market in the Computer database Network.
Since its establishment BMET has started serving both skilled and non-skilled professionals as well as classified labour force emigrating with overseas employment. Most of these employment offers are privately arranged by either individuals or Licensed Recruiting Agencies (RA). Most of these licensed agencies are members of Government of Bangladesh recognized association known as BAIRA (Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies). Besides, there is another government agency called BOESL (Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited). It was established in 1984. It is only government agency dealing with recruiting of labour migrants demanded directly through the BMET. This is the only Company created by the Government to operate in healthy competition with private recruiting agencies in the country in this sector. The main purpose of creating this Company is to provide honest, efficient and quick services to the valued foreign employers in the matter of deployment of manpower development.
Offices :
- 21 District Employment & Manpower Office.
- 14 Technical Training Centre and 1 Institute of Marine Technology.
- 03 Apprenticeship Training Office.
Availability of Manpower in Bangladesh
December 2, 2007
Unemployed labor force of Bangladesh is estimated to be about 15 million. Beside a huge number of un-skilled labor force, skilled, semi-skilled and professional manpower is also available for foreign employment. Some relevant data in this regard are given below:-
(A) TECHNICAL MANPOWER:
Skilled workers and technicians play a key role in all sectors of the economy. To produce skilled technicians there are mid-level technical and vocational training systems in the country. Mid level technical education is provided after tenth year of schooling. Polytechnic sub-system offers well organized 3 year’s diploma courses in engineering and technology. There are twenty one Polytechnic Institutes in the country with annual intake capacity of 5268 students. Besides Polytechnics, there are a number of agricultural and allied industrial, textile and leather technology institutes and commercial institutes and other specialized polytechnic institutes offering diploma level course in their respective fields.
There is an Islamic Institute of Technology IIT (formerly Islamic Center for Technical & Vocational Training & Research, ICTVTR), a subsidiary organ of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The Center has been mandated to help develop the vast human resources of the member states and provide technical training of international standard needed for the industrial, economic and social development of Muslim Ummah through offering of long regular courses in engineering and technologies and trades and organizing short and special knowledge and skill updating courses along with technological and industrial research and research in the field of human resources development with particular emphasis on technical and vocational education. In IIT a great variety of academic and training programs are offered starting from the lowest trade Level to the highest Post Graduate Diploma and Master’s Degree in Technical Education encompassing Certificates and Diploma in Vocational Education, Diploma a B.Sc. in Technical Education, Higher Diploma and B.Sc. Engineering Degree in Electrical and Electronic and Mechanical Engineering with various specialization in different rare technologist, such as Computer Science and Technology, Power System, CAD/CAM, Energy, Production and instrumentation Engineering.
There are 51 Vocational Training Institutes (VTI’s) and 13 Technical Training Centers (IIC’s) and 1 Bangladesh Institute of Marine Technology (BIMT) which cater to the training needs for craftsmen in the basic trades. Diploma in Marine Technology is also offered from BIMT. The Marine Academy at Juldia, Chittagong turn out certificated officers for merchant navy. 13 TTC’s and 1 BIMT produce annually about 7,000 highly skilled technicians on different trades, suitable for overseas employment. Tele Communication Engineers and Technicians tradesmen skilled in basic engineering and building trades like electricians, petrol/diesel mechanics, air conditioning mechanics, radio/TV mechanics, fabricators, marine mechanist, molders, tatters, plumbers, pipe fitters, painters, steel fixtures, carpenters, masons, garments workers, draftsmen, etc. are available for employment.
Testing facilities on different occupations are available in the modern Technical Training Centers both in public & sectors.
(B) MEDICAL MANPOWER :
Bangladesh has facilities for imparting graduate and post-graduate medical education and training in the country. Facilities exist in the country for turning out 2500 medical graduates and 200 dental surgeons every year. More than 5000 General Physicians (graduates) are now available for employment abroad. A good number of specialized consultants/ physicians are also available for overseas employment. Facilities to train Blood Bank Technicians, Radio Therapist, x-ray technicians, Radiographers, compounders, Dressers, Dental Technicians, Health Assistant, Sanitary Inspectors, etc. also exist in the country. Bangladesh has about 47000 paramedics and medical personnel available for employment at home and abroad. There are also 38 Nursing Training Institutes which offer 4 years Diploma course (including one year Midwifery) in other countries with excellent professional reputation. At present 8500 Diploma and 800 Graduate nurses are available for foreign employment.
(C) ENGINEERING MANPOWER :
Engineering Institutes (2 University of Engineering & Technology, 4 Bangladesh Institute of Technology, 4 Engineering College and 1 Marine Academy) produce about 1000 Graduate Engineers annually. In addition 21 Polytechnic Institutes in the country produce about 3000 Diploma Engineers annually.
At Present about 1000 Engineers and 25000 Technicians are available for employment at home and abroad.
(D) INDUSTRIAL MANPOWER :
The country’s industries employ about 1.5 million workers of different categories. Professional, managerial, administrative, technical, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers including experienced garments workers, both male and female with several years of experience in different industrial fields are available for overseas employment.
(E) COMPUTER PERSONNEL :
Bangladesh has now a large number of Computer Operators, Computer Engineers (both Hardware and Software), Programmers, Web Page Developer, Networking Specialist, System Analyst, etc. available for overseas employment.
(F) POWER STATION, PETROLEUM, AND FERTILIZER MANPOWER :
Bangladesh has vast reservoir of professional, highly skilled and skilled manpower in electricity/power, petroleum and fertilizer sectors.
(G) ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS :
Professional, technical and skilled personnel experienced in operation, repair and maintenance of all categories of vehicles including trucks and heavy vehicle equipment’s are available for employment.
H) MANPOWER FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INSURANCE, AUDIT AND
ACCOUNTS :
Bangladesh has a network of commercial Bank and Financial Institutions covering even the remotest areas of the country. Persons experienced in central banking operations are also available in Bangladesh. Normally University Graduates are recruited for supervisory and managerial postions in the bangking institutions and they are traind through a scheme for training for bankers. In addition, the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Mangement provides higher training of international standard to in-sevice banking persdonnel. Similarly, Chartered Accountants Cost Managemnt Accounts, Actuaries, and persons with long experience in Insurance business, Government and Commercial Audit and Accounting are available in the Country, and they can be spared for service abroad.
(I) PORT AND WATER TRANSPORT WORKERS :
Personas of all categories needed for administration and operation of port facilities are available. These include inland Masters, Engine Drivers, Oil Men, Pre-sea Trained Nautical Caders, Stevedores, Tally Clears, Crane Op[ertors, Fort Lift Operators, Riggers, Secrurity Personnel, Management Personnel and other categories of Personnel. They have international level of efficiency to the credit.
(J) AGRICULTURAL, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, FISHERIES, LIVESTOCK, HORTICULTURE
EXPERTS, TECHNICALS AND FARMERS:
There are two Agricultural Universities and 10 Agricultural College and several training institutes in the country offering degrees, diplomas and certificates of educaiton and training in agricultue, animal husbandry, forestry, fisheries, lifvestock, horticulture and related fields. Experts with Bachelor’s Master’s and Ph.D. degrees and technicians with several years’ experience in agricultural development, livestock, fisheries, forestry horticulture development and research activities are available in the country, in addition skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled shepherds with sufficient experience are also available for foreign emplyment.
(K) UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE/SCHOOL TEACHERS :
A large number of persons with university degrees in engineering science, humanities, fine arts and sicial sciences with experience of teaching in Schools, Colleges and Universities are available in the country for foreign employment.
(L) ADMINISTRATIVE AND DEFENSE PERSONNEL :
To man public administration Bangladesh with Bachelor’s , Master’s and Ph.D degrees and specialized training and long experience in public administration are available for employment. Besides, persons educated and experienced in eeconomic planning and research are also available for overseas employment. Retired army, navy and air force personnel with adequate experience can also be devloyed abroad for manning defense and security services.
(M) HOTEL MANAGEMENT AND CATERING STAFF:
A large number of Bangladeshi hotel personnel are working in various reputed hotels abroad, mainly in the Middle Eastern countries. The Hotel Management Training Institute run by Bangladesh Tourism Corporation turns out a good number of trained hotel personnel every year. All catergories of trained hotel staff experience or working in five star hotels can be provided for the departments of food and beverage, house keeping, front office, accounts and engineering.
(N) MARINE CREW :
Bangladesh has a large number of qualified and experienced Ship/Cargo/Vessel Crew possessing Continuous Discharge Certificates (C.D.C.) Crew can be provided from Bangladesh at short notice. Certificated merchant navy officers are also available for overseas employment.
(O) MISCELLANEOUS MANPOWER:
Qualified photographers, printers, printing technicians, journalists, translators, musical entertainers, operators, tailors, sewing men, barbers, shoe makers, domestic servants, house keepers, cleaners and all types of semi skilled an unskilled workers are available for employment abroad. Besides, Bangladesh has a huge numbers of manual workers to do heavy and difficult jobs like agricultural work, plantation, timber extraction, pottering and excavation work, etc.
QUALITIES OF WORKERS:
Bangladeshi workers are loyal, disciplined, hardworking and have the rare quality of adaptability to new situation.