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Dhaka will negotiate extending the tenure of job contracts to five years and setting a minimum wage of $300 for its workers in the Gulf countries.

A Bangladesh delegation will put forward these demands to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, home to majority of 70 lakh Bangladeshi migrants, at a two-day conference beginning today in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The meeting will particularly focus on the recruitment practices and the rights of the foreign workers.

"Most of our workers go to the Gulf states on two to three years' contract. During this tenure many cannot even recover the sum they spend for going abroad," said Kefayet Ullah, deputy secretary to the expatriates' welfare ministry.

"The average salary of Bangladeshi workers is $200 now, which should be raised to a minimum of $300," added the deputy secretary, a member of the delegation.

If these two demands are met, our workers' rights could be ensured to a great extent, mentioned Kefayet Ullah.

Bangladesh recently made similar demands to visiting Malaysian officials in Dhaka, sources said.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan is leading the Bangladesh delegation which left for UAE on Sunday.

"There is no minimum wage for the Bangladeshi female domestic workers," Zafar told The Daily Star.

"Most workers do not even have insurance and medical facilities. As a whole, our presence in the Gulf labour market is not focused yet. We shall raise these issues in the conference," added Zafar Ahmed.

Abu Zafar, consul general of Bangladesh embassy in Dubai, said the issue of extending the job contracts to five years is very important.

"The UAE is far ahead among the Gulf nations in terms of protecting labour rights," he added.

The Bangladesh delegation will also hold meetings with the UAE employers and Bangladeshi businessmen in the UAE on these issues, stated Abu Zafar.

Indian, Sri Lankan and Filipino workers are usually paid 20 to 30 percent higher than the Bangladeshi workers, said Abdul Alim, a recruiting agent.

According to him, the difference is mainly because of better communication and negotiating skills.

Labour and human resources ministers and officials from the Asian labour recruiting and exporting countries are attending the event.

The UAE is hosting the event in coordination with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.