More than 100,000 job offers have poured in at the Bangladesh mission offices in Jeddah and Riyadh since the Saudi government’s declaration of the general amnesty on May 10.
“Following the declaration, we contacted different Saudi chambers and companies, and they have sent over 100,000 job offers as of today,” Bangladesh Ambassador in Riyadh Md Shahidul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday.
The number was 72,000 on Monday, he said.
“The Saudi employers told us that they were interested in recruiting anyone with valid papers,” the ambassador said.
Those granted amnesty would be sent to those companies, he added.
“Whenever we are contacted by the Saudi companies, we inform the local community in Saudi Arabia and issue notices about the new job openings,” he said.
On May 10, the Saudi government declared a general amnesty for all expatriates who had violated residency and labour regulations, to enable them to amend their status and continue to stay and work in the kingdom without penalties or fines.
“Some 5,000-10,000 people are visiting the embassy and consulate offices in Jeddah every day to get new passports,” Ambassador Shahidul Islam said.
He said the foreign ministry had sent 18 officials from the headquarters and 24 from Bangladesh embassies in other Gulf countries to assist the mission in Saudi Arabia in providing consular services.
“We have been working day and night so all Bangladeshi expatriates can avail the opportunity and get work in Saudi Arabia.”
The staff of the Bangladesh mission in Riyadh consists of 12 officers and more than 30 others of different ranks and categories while in the mission office in Jeddah there are about 40 staff members, 10 of them officers.
The amnesty will remain in effect until July 3. If any illegal worker gets a valid job offer by that time, they can change their work status. Workers will also be allowed to leave Saudi Arabia without paying fines or punishment.
Officials in Dhaka said around two million Bangladeshis are now working in Saudi Arabia. Data of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training indicates that kingdom has been recruiting workers from Bangladesh in a limited number since 2008.
