Expatriate welfare ministry to give cash assistance to Saudi-bound migrant workers

In face of sufferings and financial burden of Saudi-bound Bangladeshi expatriate workers following a travel advisory from the Gulf country, Expatriates' Welfare Ministry today said they have decided in principle to provide cash support to the migrant workers.

Talking to The Daily Star over telephone, a top official of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry said a cabinet meeting will also be held on May 30 to discuss fresh sufferings of the Saudi-bound migrant workers and how to provide them financial help.

Wishing anonymity, the top official of the ministry said they have also written a letter to a respective ministry to offer "special fare" of air ticket for the expatriate migrant workers to lessen their financial burden to go to abroad.

Several thousand Bangladeshi workers are facing huge sufferings and financial burden towards joining work in Saudi Arabia following a travel advisory from the Middle Eastern country.

The issues likely to be discussed in the inter-ministerial meeting on Sunday, to be chaired by Cabinet secretary are

- Exorbitant air fare for workers to middle eastern countries.

- Priority in ensuring vaccination of outbound workers and institutional quarantine of Saudi bound passengers and other related issues, sources at the expatriates' welfare ministry told The Daily Star.