Oman will reopen work visas for Bangladeshi workers within the next two months, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul announced on Monday.

Assurance came during a meeting with Oman's Labour Minister Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali Baawain on the sidelines of the Global Labour Market Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Omani Labour Minister explained that new work visas for unskilled and semi-skilled workers have been temporarily suspended since 2023. Suspension aimed to prioritise regularisation of undocumented migrant workers already in Oman.

Asif Nazrul praised Oman's initiative to regularise irregular Bangladeshi workers without imposing fines. He urged the Omani minister to facilitate entry of skilled Bangladeshi professionals, including engineers, doctors and nurses, into Oman's labour market.

Adviser also requested a review of the suspension on visas for unskilled and semi-skilled workers, according to a PID handout.

During the discussion, Asif Nazrul highlighted Bangladesh's ongoing efforts to improve migration management through technology use, ensuring transparency and accountability. Government has introduced legal reforms, pre-departure skill verification and training on host country language, culture and laws.

Adviser proposed convening the next meeting of the Joint Technical Committee in Muscat during the first half of this year. He invited the Omani Labour Minister to sign a finalised Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance labour cooperation between the two countries.

Move comes as relief for thousands of Bangladeshi workers seeking employment opportunities in Oman, which remains a major destination for migrant labour from Bangladesh.