Over 12,500 Bangladeshi workers in Brunei have become jobless due to spread of coronavirus, according to officials.

Most of such Bangladeshis are temporary workers in construction sector which hit hard by the coronavirus situation as it suspended all the ongoing projects, the officials told New Age.

About 25,000 Bangladeshis were currently working in Brunei and 50 to 60 per cent of them became jobless there due to suspension of works amid coronavirus pandemic, according to Bangladesh High Commission.

Officials at the Bangladesh High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan told New Age that they had listed 820 Bangladeshi workers who got stranded in different labour camps. Each of them would be provided with a financial grant of Tk 3,000 to overcome the crisis, they said.

Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei has already received a fund of Tk 25 lakh from the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board and the money would be distributed among the distressed workers, they said.

They said that Bangladesh community people have also started providing foods and necessary support to the jobless Bangladeshis in that country.

A fund is being collected by Bangladeshi business community in Brunei and it will be spent for buying food and other essential commodities for them, a senior diplomat said.

The official also said that all of the Bangladeshi workers were advised to visit health services without any hesitation in case they feel any kind of symptom related to coronavirus infection.

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