Greece has expressed interest in recruiting more workers from Bangladesh while assuring that the 2022 labour migration memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries will be renewed, according to Bangladesh's ambassador to Greece, Nahida Rahman Sumona.
The development could open a safer and more transparent pathway for Bangladeshi workers to enter Greece legally and reduce the risks associated with irregular migration through the Mediterranean.At a July 30 meeting with Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, the two sides discussed irregular migration, prevention of human trafficking, expansion of legal labour migration and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, the Greek minister expressed interest in working with Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) to recruit more Bangladeshi workers.
Subsequently, Ambassador Nahida Rahman Sumona met BOESL Managing Director Mohammad Rashedul Haque on Sunday to discuss accelerating the recruitment and deployment of Bangladeshi workers to Greece through BOESL in a safe, transparent and cost-effective manner.
MoU renewal expected: Ambassador Nahida said the Greek minister had assured Bangladesh that the labour migration MoU would be renewed and that Greece would recruit more workers from Bangladesh. She also said the Greek minister is expected to visit Bangladesh.
However, Greece has made it clear that people who enter the country irregularly and seek asylum will not automatically receive permission to stay. Greece has demand for workers in several sectors, including restaurants, agriculture, tourism and construction. Experts told The Daily Industry that expanding legal employment opportunities in Greece could increase the participation of Bangladeshi workers in the country's labour market while reducing incentives for irregular migration to Europe.
Safer alternative to Mediterranean routes: The issue has become particularly important following recent incidents involving Bangladeshis attempting to enter Greece irregularly after crossing the Mediterranean.
Experts said recruiting workers through BOESL could reduce dependence on middlemen and help prevent Bangladeshis from taking dangerous irregular routes to Europe. They said a government-managed recruitment process could also improve transparency, lower migration costs and reduce the scope for fraud and exploitation by recruiting agents.
2022 agreement saw limited progress:Under the 2022 MoU, Greece was supposed to recruit 4,000 Bangladeshi workers annually. The agreement also created an opportunity for around 15,000 undocumented Bangladeshis already living in Greece to obtain legal status.
However, implementation has not progressed as expected. Bangladesh does not have a Greek embassy, while visa processing has largely depended on facilities in New Delhi. Complaints have also emerged over alleged broker syndicates operating around the visa process in Delhi.
Experts told The Daily Industry that renewing the MoU and strengthening the BOESL-based recruitment mechanism could help address some of these longstanding problems.
They recommended that the two governments establish a transparent recruitment channel with clear eligibility criteria, regulated costs and direct government oversight.
A stronger legal migration pathway, they said, would benefit both countries: Greece would gain access to workers in sectors facing labour shortages, while Bangladesh could increase safe overseas employment and reduce irregular migration risks.
