The Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) yesterday informed the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment that some recruiting agencies were charging very high prices to prospective migrants.
“We have informed the ministry that some recruiting agencies are charging Tk6,00,000 to Tk7,00,000 to send their clients to Saudi Arabia,” Baira president Mohammad Abul Bashar told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
Bashar admitted that migration costs in Bangladesh were high compared with countries like India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
“We have reached an agreement with the government that we would reduce migration fees and we have sent letters to each recruiting agency in this regard,” Bashar said.
Normally, a migrant should spend Tk4,00,000 to Tk4,50,000 to go to Saudi Arabia but two recruiting agencies are charging Tk6,00,000 to Tk7,00,000 to send their clients to Saudi Arabia, he added.
“If necessary, we will cancel the licenses of these recruiting agencies,” Bashar said.
According to the Baira letter sent to the Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, a number of recruiting agencies purchased work from Saudi companies at a high cost and then charged migrants Tk6,00,000 to Tk7,00,000 in defiance of the association’s initiatives.
Baira, in its communication, explained that the Saudi Arabia-based firm, Seder Trading & Contracting Company, had issued 1,322 visas. Of those, Rabbi International (Recruiting License No-258) purchased 400 visas and Assurance Services Company (Recruiting License No-1122) purchased 600 visas at a high cost.
Other agencies were trying to purchase the remaining 322 visas at high cost.
“We have just received Baira’s allegations,” Deputy Secretary Kazi Kalam told the Dhaka Tribune over the phone yesterday.
