Oman has launched a new labour recruitment programme to hire 5,000 agricultural workers from Bangladesh, offering a significant opportunity for Bangladeshi job seekers while helping address seasonal labour shortages in the Gulf country’s farming sector.

The recruitment initiative has been introduced by the Omani Agricultural Association (OAA) after receiving formal approvals from the Ministry of Labour and the Royal Oman Police. The programme aims to ensure that the recruitment process complies with Oman’s labour and immigration regulations while supporting the country’s agricultural sector.

Under the scheme, the approved quota of 5,000 Bangladeshi workers has been allocated exclusively to members of recognised agricultural associations across Oman. Each governorate or agricultural association will be permitted to recruit up to 330 workers under the programme.

Applications will be accepted for 12 days, from August 9 to August 20, during official working hours between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm. Farmers are required to submit their applications at the OAA’s Al Dhahirah Branch office in Al Murtafa’a, Ibri.

According to the association, only registered members of the Al Dhahirah Branch who have paid the annual membership fee of 25 Omani Rials (approximately Tk 8,046) will be eligible to participate in the recruitment process.

Applicants must submit several mandatory documents, including a copy of the agricultural holding (hiyaza) certificate, a national identity card, a valid Ministry of Labour work permit, and the agricultural cultivation form for the 2026–27 farming season, clearly indicating cultivated areas and crop types.

The OAA has warned that incomplete applications or those lacking the required supporting documents will be rejected immediately.

The association has also provided a dedicated contact number (99413998) to respond to enquiries related to the recruitment programme.

The initiative comes at a time when Gulf countries are increasingly looking to secure a stable agricultural workforce to meet seasonal labour demand. For Bangladesh, the programme represents another avenue for overseas employment and could contribute to increased remittance inflows if implemented smoothly.

Bangladesh has long been one of the major sources of migrant workers for Oman, with thousands employed in sectors including construction, services, manufacturing and agriculture. The new programme is expected to create additional employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers seeking jobs abroad while strengthening labour cooperation between the two countries.