Noting that undocumented workers may be exploited in a much easier way, Vice President of the Maldives Faisal Naseem has sought support from the relevant ministry in regularising all the Bangladeshi workers in their country.
At a meeting with Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad on Tuesday, the Vice President detailed the Maldives goal to regularise all the expatriate workers it has at the earliest.
They further discussed partnerships for technical training and skill development programmes as well as work on exchange programmes to help employees build critical skills, reports UNB.
The Vice President first met PM's Advisor Salman F Rahman and discussed the current situation of the Maldives and Bangladesh following the Covid-19 effects on both countries.
He highlighted the Maldives' priority to improve decentralised healthcare, and the ensuing need for further technical and vocational training as well as higher education opportunities to specialise in different areas of the healthcare system.
They also discussed opportunities to collaborate in the provision of pharmaceutical products to the Maldives.
Vice President Faisal Naseem next met State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel.
They discussed plans to initiate talks to exchange further agreements for bilateral sports development, athlete exchanges, arranging special training camps for athletes and making agreements to provide expert assistance in various areas of the sports sector.
The State Minister praised the performance by Dheena, the 14-year-old Maldivian girl who won the gold medal for the Maldives during the 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG), noting the potential of youth athletes in the Maldives.
The Vice President discussed the reinvigoration of cricket in the Maldives, stating that an all-star Bangladeshi cricket team coming to play in the Maldives would draw the attention of sports-oriented youths and individuals towards cricket.
He also met Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni.
The Vice President noted during the meeting that the Maldives required assistance from the Bangladeshi government to further improve educational opportunities to specialise in fields such as healthcare and engineering, and in building technical expertise for creating standard practices in regulatory bodies.
They also discussed the opportunities of scholarship for Maldivian students from Bangladeshi institutions.