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DHAKA: The Bangladeshi government says it is preparing to send skilled and semi-skilled workers to Saudi Arabia to assist with development projects ahead of international events to be hosted by the Kingdom, including the FIFA World Cup, the Asian Winter Games, and Expo 2030.

Adviser Asif Nazrul, who heads Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, visited Riyadh this week to meet with Saudi authorities and discuss the welfare and presence of Bangladeshi expats in the Kingdom’s labor market. He also met with representatives of leading Saudi companies and recruitment agencies.

“The meetings concluded that Bangladesh can supply more skilled and semi-skilled migrants to the Kingdom to support the implementation of Vision 2030 and the successful hosting of various upcoming international events,” Mohammad Shahed Anowar, deputy secretary at the ministry, told Arab News.

“In the Kingdom, there is good demand for our construction workers, including plumbers, pipe fitters, welders, electricians, AC mechanics and so on.”

Around 3 million Bangladeshi nationals live and work in Saudi Arabia. They are the largest expat group in the Kingdom and the largest Bangladeshi community outside Bangladesh. Many are employed in the construction sector and more are likely to find jobs in the industry in the next few years, as the country prepares to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, the Asian Winter Games in 2029, the World Expo in 2030, and the FIFA World Cup in 2034.

The World Cup alone will offer numerous opportunities for migrant workers to help build 15 stadiums in five cities, as well as transport networks and hotel infrastructure.

“These events will require new construction work, and we can supply the skilled and semi-skilled workforce needed for these projects,” Anowar said.

“To meet the demands of Saudi employers, we are focusing on preparing more skilled workers. Our Technical Training Centers are well-equipped for this purpose. We invite Saudi employers to visit the centers and see the preparations firsthand. We are also collaborating with the Saudi agency Takamol, which certifies workers’ skills according to Saudi standards and requirements. We can dedicate specific TTCs to ensure the Kingdom can easily source skilled migrants from these centers.”

During the overseas employment adviser’s visit, the Bangladeshi embassy in Riyadh launched the E-Demand Attestation system, allowing Saudi companies to register online and attest worker demand letters remotely.

“The E-Demand Attestation system will make worker recruitment more transparent and reduce lead time for sending migrants from Bangladesh. Employers can submit their recruitment requisitions online, eliminating the need to visit the embassy. Our Labor Wing officials at the embassy will review the requisition and expedite the recruitment process accordingly,” Anowar said.

“The system will streamline the recruitment process, making it hassle-free and transparent for both employers and migrants.”

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis tripped while entering the Vatican auditorium for an audience Saturday after the handle of his walking stick snapped, but he avoided falling.
The 88-year-old pope often has to use a wheelchair or a cane because of bad knees and has fallen twice in the past two months.
After Saturday’s slight stumble, two aides helped him to his chair on the stage and the audience proceeded without incident. After he recovered someone in the audience shouted “Viva il Papa” and the audience applauded.
Earlier in January, Francis fell and hurt his right arm. It wasn’t broken, but a sling was put on as a precaution.
On Dec. 7, the pope whacked his chin on his nightstand in an apparent fall that resulted in a bad bruise.
The pontiff has long battled health problems including long bouts of bronchitis. He uses a walker or cane when moving around his apartment in the Vatican’s Santa Marta hotel.
Speculation about Francis’ health is a constant in Vatican circles, especially after Pope Benedict XVI broke 600 years of tradition and resigned from the papacy in 2013. Benedict’s aides have attributed the decision to a nighttime fall that he suffered during a 2012 trip to Mexico, after which he determined he couldn’t keep up with the globe-trotting demands of the papacy.
Francis has said that he has no plans to resign anytime soon, even if Benedict “opened the door” to the possibility. In his autobiography “Hope” released this month, Francis said that he hadn’t considered resigning even when he had major intestinal surgery.