FM warns visa traders of punitive action
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni warned of punitive action against unscrupulous middlemen who are involved in visa trading which causes migrants' woes abroad.
“These men (visa traders) are largely responsible for some of the workers' problems in the Kingdom,” she told the daily Arab News of Saudi Arabia after meeting acting governor of Riyadh Prince Sattam in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Visa trading is buying and then selling of work visas or orders to jobseekers at high cost, which is illegal but rampant in the labour recruitment process. When migrants pay a substantial amount but later get low wages, they fail to recover their investment and face problems overseas, say migration experts.
“While appreciating the contribution made by a majority of the 1.5 million workers in the Kingdom, we also took note of the problems faced by a fraction of the community members,” said Moni, reported Arab News yesterday.
She left for Abuja, Nigeria yesterday to attend the 14th Session of the Developing-8 Council of Ministers.
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