Maldives to employ skilled Bangladeshis

Maldives to employ skilled Bangladeshis

Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has stated in a meeting with his counterpart, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, IftiKhar Ahmed Chowdry, that the Maldives is looking to employ more workers from Bangladesh for the booming tourism sector.

Unskilled expatriate workers line up to welcome the Maldives dictator on his return from the last UN summit; locals couldn't be bothered with the dictator anymore

Maldives already has an estimated 40,000 Bangladeshi work force, mostly employed in unskilled or semi-skilled jobs. The new recruitment plan will instead focus on semi-skilled and skilled workers, according to reports in Bangladeshi media, quoting Mr. Shahid.

Bangladesh has 37 technical training centres which is expected produce around 50,000 skilled workers this year alone, hence fulfilling the requirements of Maldives for skilled workers, according to Minister Chowdry.

The proportion of the foreign work force in the Maldives is currently over taking the locals and the authorities are unable or unwilling to implement the employment laws properly. Some resorts, especially those owned and managed by foreign companies tend to employ more foreigners than locals, which is against the law.

There is no doubt that the local work force cannot fill the gaps in the job market, especially in the tourism sector and the need for skilled workers is ever on the rise with the opening of new resorts and hotels. However, it is important to ensure that the rule of law is applied and the employment sector is properly regulated.
The ministerial meeting took place in Colombo, ahead of 15th SAARC Summit this week.