Fake Work Permits Threaten Bangladeshi Jobs in Europe

Fake Work Permits Threaten Bangladeshi Jobs in Europe

Bangladeshi workers face a serious threat in Serbia and North Macedonia as visa applications are increasingly linked to fake work permits.

Embassies in both countries recently detected widespread use of fraudulent documents and have halted the issuance of work permits to Bangladeshis. Officials warned that continued fraud could lead to a complete suspension of visas for Bangladeshi workers.

Diplomatic sources revealed that nearly 90% of work permits submitted to the North Macedonian embassy were found to be fake, with a similar situation reported in Serbia. No work permits have been issued for the past two months, yet fraudulent applications persist, raising the risk of a full ban.

Authorities recently arrested four members of a Bangladeshi human trafficking network in North Macedonia, including two from Brahmanbaria and one from Sylhet. The National Security Council decided that the traffickers would face imprisonment or deportation following trial.

Fraudsters have also been creating counterfeit Serbian visa stickers, deceiving workers and extorting large sums of money, undermining Bangladesh’s labor market abroad.

To legally work abroad, Bangladeshi workers must have a work permit, visa, and BMET-issued Smart Card. Fraud rings exploit the system by submitting fake permits, producing counterfeit visa stickers, and obtaining Smart Cards for these fraudulent visas. Many victims are stopped at immigration due to the forged documents.

Reports indicate that these groups also target expatriates in the Middle East through social media, luring them with promises of high-paying jobs.

One victim, Majedul Islam, said, “I applied online for a worker visa to Serbia last May. My application remained pending, and recently the agency changed my ID password, now promising approval and a visa sticker within a month.”

Authorities confirmed this is a scam. The visa was never approved, and the fraudsters are attempting to extort money by issuing fake approvals and stickers.

Slobodan Uzunov, North Macedonia’s ambassador in New Delhi (accredited to Bangladesh), warned, “For the last two months, North Macedonia has not issued any work permits to Bangladeshis. Yet some dishonest groups continue applying with fake permits. If this continues, we may soon stop issuing visas to Bangladeshi citizens altogether.”