Gosaibi, Minister of Labor has confirmed the ban on recruitment of some categories of the Bangladeshi workers. He explained that the ban comes under a new recruitment rationalization policy that, among other objectives, aims to strike a balance among the various nationalities working in the Kingdom. The policy is in line with the decision of the Manpower Council to set quotas on the numbers of foreign workers, proportionate to their nationalities. The labor minister said the recruitment ban on some categories of Bangladeshi workers was called for since some of these categories have already reached the percentage set for the total manpower in the country. Accordingly, the ban covers house help and those working in agricultural jobs. The minister said that, for now, recruitment from Bangladesh is limited to establishments that need qualified personnel in the medical and engineering fields. Al-Gosaibi said the decision excludes those coming to work in cleaning and maintenance jobs for establishments having contracts with government; however, their rate should not exceed 20 percent of the total workers of such an employer. The ban is not permanent since the ministry periodically revises recruitment decisions. Al-Gosaibi said the ministry might reconsider the status of Bangladeshi workers in the future if a balance is struck between their numbers and that of all foreign workers in the country. In making the announcement, the labor minister underscored the role played by Bangladeshi, Arab nationalities and other workers from Islamic and friendly countries in the Kingdom's economic process. __
