Around 40,000 expatriate workers waiting to go to Saudi Arabia in the next one and a half months could have saved almost Tk 260 crore in hotel expenses had the government prioritised inoculating them against Covid-19. As per the new travel advisory that has been in effect since May 20, a worker has to stay in a hotel for a week upon reaching Saudi Arabia, spending about Tk
After at least 1,000 migrants missed their flights to Saudi Arabia failing to book or pay for their mandatory quarantine in hotels, Bangladesh yesterday decided to help KSA-bound migrants with hotel bookings and subsidy.
The migrants had been in trouble after the Gulf country, the largest manpower market for Bangladesh, earlier this month said people travelling to the kingdom from Bangladesh would have to be in seven-day mandatory quarantine in hotels at their own cost.
Many workers struggled to manage the additional Tk 60,000-Tk 70,000 needed for their hotel stay. Some unable to book hotels themselves for various reasons, sought the help from airlines, who a few days ago said the migrants would have to book hotels themselves.
Sufferings of Saudi-bound Bangladeshi expatriate workers centering hotel booking for institutional quarantine reached its climax as Saudi Arabian Airlines announced that they won't be able to facilitate migrant workers from now on regarding hotel bookings. Biman Bangladesh Airlines which will resume its flight to Saudi Arabia from May 29 after nine days suspension in its
Bangladeshi migrants trying to go to Saudi Arabia have found themselves in more trouble as airlines are now saying that hotel bookings for the seven-day on-arrival institutional quarantine must be done by passengers. Officials of Saudi Arabian Airlines yesterday said they can no longer help migrant workers with hotel bookings. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which is scheduled to
KSA Travel Advisory: Ministry doing little to address workers’ plight
Migrant workers intending to travel to Saudi Arabia gather in front of the Saudia office at the capital’s Hotel Sonargaon around noon yesterday to book hotel stays after reaching the gulf country. A recent travel advisory by the Kingdom made it mandatory for travellers to be in institutional quarantine at their own expense for seven days after arrival. Photo: Prabir Das
Bangladeshis are facing huge obstacles to joining work in Saudi Arabia following a travel advisory from the Middle Eastern country. The expatriates welfare ministry has not yet taken any visible steps to address their issues.