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First batch of 60 skilled RMG workers fly to Russia in 3 months

Refayet Ullah Mirdha
The first batch of a group of 60 skilled garment workers that has been chosen by a local overseas recruiter for a Russian employer now awaits its flight to that country sometime in the next3 months.
Mojibul Hoque, managing director (MD) of Mother Overseas, the Bangladeshi recruiting agency approved by the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, said his company has already selected the workers through an interview for the Russian company Visozstoy.
"I am hopeful that the selected workers might be sent to Russia within the next three months as all documents in this connection have already been sent to the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow and the company concerned after completion of all procedures," Hoque said.
He said all the 60 workers have been selected as sewing machine operators and they will be paid US$600 per month as remuneration.
The workers will also enjoy other benefits like travel allowance and medical treatment from their Russian employer.
The Mother Overseas MD claimed that the government fixed Tk 1,35,000 was taken from each worker as service charge.
n Many more orders for sending skilled ready-made garment (RMG) workers from Bangladesh may be received soon as Russia is going to be one of the major destinations for Bangladeshi skilled workers as well as RMG products," Hoque hoped.
However, he linked the win of such a big deal of hiring Bangladeshi RMG workers to the performance of the workers already tipped as sewing machine operator.
Besides sending the RMG workers to Russia, Mother
Overseas will also send 150 skilled construction workers, Haque also toldThe Daily Star.
Meanwhile, another recruiting agency Unique Eastern also received an order from Russia recently to send 50 skilled construction workers.
When asked, Abdul Matin Chowdhury, secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, confirmed about the government nod to Mother Overseas to send 60 skilled RMG workers to Russia.
Although garment industry leaders have previously complained of a shortage of skilled labour in Bangladesh, they welcomed yesterday the Russian initiative as a proof of the strong development and international competitiveness
of the local garment sector.
Matin Chowdhury said that a ministry delegation recently attended a forum on employment in Russia where the intention of hiring skilled manpower from Bangladesh was expressed.
Official statistics says more than 2.5 million skilled, semiskilled and unskilled workers, 80 per cent of which are female, are now engaged in nearly 4500 woven, 1700 knitwear and 1300 ntextile sectors.
Market operators said remittances from expatriate Bangladeshis could exceed USS10 billion in 2008 as more and more local skilled and semi-skilled workers are going abroad for jobs.
reefat@thedailystar.net