(Seychelles News Agency) - A moratorium in Seychelles on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers will be removed after the island nation and Bangladesh signed a labour agreement on Monday.

The agreement was signed by Seychelles’ minister of employment, immigration and civil status, Miriam Telemaque, and the Bangladeshi minister of expatriates welfare and overseas employment, Imran Ahmad.

In her address, Telemaque said, “I wish to state that the signing of the labour agreement today will remove the moratorium on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers introduced in October 2018.”

The moratorium was put in place by the Department of Employment to tighten recruitment measures after six Bangladeshi employees of a security firm approached media houses to express their frustration as their employers had failed to pay them their wages.

Telemaque said that as of now there will be a difference in the manner in which the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers is done.

Several provisions have been made under the agreement which will be renewable after four years and this includes the sources used for recruitment. Employers in Seychelles will source for Bangladeshi workers only through the two designated authorities, Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Ltd (BOESL) and Bureau of Manpower Employment Training (BMET).

Other provisions are that Bangladeshi workers sign an employment contract, are made aware of the terms and conditions of the contract, speak basic English and are well prepared before leaving Bangladesh.

Telemaque said, “The provisions are important so that we as Government ensure the protection of the rights of the Bangladeshi workers coming to work in Seychelles and also protection of the employers in Seychelles.”

She added that the agreement serves to emphasise the mutual interest of both Governments, and to ensure good working and living conditions for Bangladeshis while in employment in Seychelles.

On his side, the Bangladeshi minister, Ahmad, said that by signing this agreement the two countries need to put all the labour problems that happened in the past.  

“Bangladesh believes in long-lasting relationships. We have many other common issues where we can further our relationship. I am more than convinced that any issue that comes up we can solve it together,” he said.  

The Bangladeshi minister added that “this a win and win situation for both countries. Further to the signing we do not only want to send workers to Seychelles, but we want to send those that are skilful that can hugely benefit Seychelles,” added Ahmad.

Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, has many migrant workers mainly from Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. They are mostly employed in the construction sector.