Muscat: Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Dr Dipu Moni, has praised the recent labour law reforms that aim to protect the rights of migrant workers in Oman.
After a meeting with Hassan Bin Mohsin Al Sheraiqi, Oman’s Inspector-General of Police and Customs, the minister stressed that the migration of workers should be legal. "We are determined to stop illegal human trafficking," she said in a statement released by the Embassy of Bangladesh here in Muscat.
On her part, Dr Moni assured the Omani authorities that Bangladesh will take all necessary steps to stop human trafficking. She urged the Omani police chief to protect the rights and welfare of the Bangladeshi expatriate workforce in Oman.
"The Omani IGP has agreed to have frequent consultations on the issue of rights and welfare of Bangladesh workforce," she said.
The minister also said that a joint working group meeting was held last January in which the two sides discussed on developing a mechanism that would address the issues of illegal migrants as well as welfare of the Bangladesh workers in Oman.
A large number of Bangladesh nationals are reportedly overstaying in Oman or working for employers other than their sponsors and in recent times Omani authorities have intensified crackdown on illegal expatriate residents.
During her talks with the Foreign Minister Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, Dr Moni highlighted the stringent measures taken by Bangladesh to streamline migration of workers from her country.
Both ministers underlined the need for close cooperation at the UN as well as other regional and international organisations.
Dr Moni invited Omani businessmen to come and invest in Bangladesh. "We have investment friendly atmosphere Bangladesh," she said and hoped that trade between the two countries would increase in near future.
She also requested minister to consider opening a full-fledged Omani Embassy in Dhaka. Bin Alawi hoped that the Omani embassy would be opened in Dhaka by next year.
Dr Moni handed over an invitation letter from Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina to Bin Alawi. The letter is addressed to Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed to visit Bangladesh.
This was the first visit by a Bangladesh Foreign Minister to Oman since the establishment of Bangladesh Mission in Muscat at the level of Charge d’ Affaires in 1983.
