Reza Mahmud :
Greece has opened labour market for Bangladeshi workers after Dhaka and Athens signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regards.
Bangladesh Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad and Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum Notis Mitarachi on Wednesday signed the MoU on behalf of their respective governments at Probashi Kallyan Bhaban at Eskaton in Dhaka.
As per the MoU, four thousand Bangladeshi workers will get work permits every year in Greece.
After signing the MoU, Minister Imran Ahmad said in a press briefing that Bangladeshi workers would now be able to go to the European country safely and work legally there.
This is the first agreement on employment of Bangladesh with any European country, the minister said.
Greek employers will bear all costs once the recruitment process from Bangladesh is finalised, the minister said.
Imran Ahmed, however, urged the workers interested to go to the Mediterranean country to be careful in this regard so that they do not fall into the clutches of any middlemen.
Greek Minister Notis Mitarachi said the agreement would be executed soon with the approval from their parliament.
The Greek Minister praised Bangladeshi workers as hard labourer.
He, however, said, they (Bangladeshi workers) fall into trap of human traffickers and become bankrupt frequently.
According to the MoU, Bangladeshi workers will be given a five-year temporary work permit.
After completing the five years tenure, they have to be sent back the country and can go Greece for seeking work again. Besides, the Bangladeshi migrants staying in Greece will be legalized by phases as per the MoU.
As per the MoU, Bangladeshi manpower will get seasonal worker visa and work permit for joining the country’s agricultural sector.
The number of sectors for employing Bangladeshi manpower will be increased on discussions between the two countries based on demands.
At the time of application, workers must submit papers, valid travel documents and work contract and bear the prescribed fee.
The Greek minister said, the agreement will protect the interests of Bangladeshi workers.
Dr. Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, Secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Patroklos Georgiadis, General Secretary of Migration Policy of Greece, were present at the MoU signing ceremony.
In November last year, Dhaka and Athens signed a letter of interest on safe migration to the European country.
Meanwhile, manpower exporters of the country also expressed optimism about the MoU. They think that this agreement will create more opportunities for sending Bangladeshi manpower to most of the countries in Europe.
When contacted, Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, former Secretary General of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), told The New Nation on Wednesday, “The MoU between Dhaka and Athens on recruiting our manpower to the Mediterranean country is a major breakthrough. It opens a new window to export Bangladeshi manpower to other European countries.”
He expressed hope that similar MoU will be signed with other countries of the continent.
