Mauritius Agrees to Reopen Labor Market to Bangladeshi Workers
Bangladesh and Mauritius have reached an agreement in principle to reopen the Mauritian labor market to Bangladeshi workers, a move set to restore a key pathway for employment migration between the two nations.
The decision was formalized during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva. The talks involved Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriates' Welfare, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, and Mauritius' Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, Muhammad Reza Cassam Uteem.
During the discussions, Minister Chowdhury formally requested the swift signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the resumption of manpower exports. Highlighting Bangladesh's diverse labor capabilities, he emphasized that the country is prepared to supply not only textile workers but also skilled professionals, including doctors, engineers, and nurses. As part of the diplomatic outreach, Minister Chowdhury extended an official invitation to his Mauritian counterpart to visit Bangladesh.
In response, Minister Uteem welcomed the proposal, noting that Mauritius maintains a strong interest in recruiting skilled labor from Bangladesh, particularly to address critical staffing needs within the Mauritian textile industry. The Mauritian minister indicated that a draft MoU would be prepared and transmitted shortly to expedite the process. Furthermore, he expressed a strategic interest in exploring potential investment opportunities within Bangladesh’s textile sector.
The meeting, described by officials as cordial and productive, also served as a platform to review the current status of Bangladeshi workers already residing in Mauritius. The Bangladeshi delegation included Secretary of Labour and Employment Md. Abdur Rahman Torofdar and Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Nahida Sobhan, alongside other senior ministry officials.
