Proposal to Increase Recruitment of Skilled Professionals in the Maldives’ Labour Market

Bangladesh’s Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Dr Asif Nazrul, held discussions with the Maldives’ Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed, on increasing the recruitment of professional workers in the Maldivian labour market.

The meeting took place on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Global Labour Market Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, Dr Asif Nazrul urged the Maldivian authorities to regularise all irregular and undocumented Bangladeshi workers currently residing in the Maldives. He also proposed increasing the recruitment of qualified professionals from Bangladesh, including doctors, engineers, nurses, teachers and other skilled personnel.

The adviser praised the Maldives government’s education loan facilities for higher studies abroad. At the same time, he invited Maldivian students to pursue higher education in Bangladesh in fields such as medicine, engineering, agriculture and other specialised disciplines.

Dr Asif Nazrul also called for joint initiatives to encourage Bangladeshi tourists to visit the Maldives.

In response, Maldivian Minister Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed expressed keen interest in recruiting more skilled workers and professionals from Bangladesh. He also proposed organising education fairs in the Maldives with the participation of reputed Bangladeshi universities.

The meeting was also attended by Maldives’ State Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, Dr Abdullah Nazir, and Additional Secretary of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Md Saiful Haque Chowdhury.