Work Permit Applications for Bangladeshi Nationals Suspended

In a written statement, the Ministry said the decision was made under Article 9(2) of the Foreigners’ Work Permits Law, which grants the authority to amend permit types, durations, and procedures based on labour market demands. Alongside the suspension affecting Bangladeshi citizens, the following temporary regulations will also take effect on the same date:

Lateral Transfer Permitted in Specific Sectors

Foreign nationals from third countries who have completed at least one year of employment in the agriculture, livestock, or construction sectors will be allowed to apply for lateral transfers within these sectors. Requests for lateral transfers to sectors outside these three will not be considered.

Exceptional Cases in the Regulation Remain Valid

The Ministry reaffirmed that exceptions outlined in Article 30(9) of the Foreigners’ Work Permits Regulation — which do not require a one-year waiting period — will remain in effect. Applications falling under these exceptions will continue to be evaluated based on Labour Department inspectors’ reports and existing legal provisions.

Sectoral Limitation for Turkmenistan Nationals

For nationals of Turkmenistan, only preliminary work permit applications in the domestic services sector will be accepted. Applications in all other sectors will be suspended until further notice.

The Ministry emphasized that these measures have been enacted temporarily to manage the labour market more effectively, ensure sectoral balance, and respond to social needs. The situation will be re-evaluated based on developments.