The manpower recruiters on Saturday demanded rationalising the airfares so that the outbound Bangladeshi workers can afford to travel to their job destination countries.
The Recruiting Agencies Oikko Porishad (RAOP), a panel of manpower recruiters in Bangladesh, raised the demand through forming a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the city.
It also urged the government to vaccinate the workers with the vaccines endorsed by Saudi Arabia.
Arifur Rahman, secretary-general of RAOP, said the government has included outbound workers in its priority list of Covid-19 vaccination.
Appreciating the government's announcement, he said it would help minimise the quarantine-related hassles.
He, however, expressed frustration that the Sinopharm vaccine is not accepted in Saudi Arabia. If the workers take this vaccine, it will not be allowed by the Saudi authorities and the workers will not be recognised as the vaccinated persons, he added.
The workers will have to fulfill on arrival institutional quarantine as announced by the Arab nations, he added.
Mr Rahman, also the owner of Oparajita Overseas, said it would be the best option if the government imports single-shot Covid-vaccine like the Netherlands-based Johnson and Johnson vaccine. It would save time for the workers.
RAOP president M Tipu Sultan, among others, spoke at the event.
The manpower recruiters informed the meeting that the airfares of Saudi and Middle East-bound different routes more than tripled recently.
The fares from some neighbouring countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to Middle East presently range between Tk 18,000 to 22,000.
But the Bangladeshi workers were spending between Tk 70,000 and Tk 90,000 for travelling to the same destinations, they mentioned.
The recruiters also demanded recognising the manpower sector as an industry and sought incentive under a stimulus package.
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