Dhaka, Sept. 22 -- The "welfare fee" payable by workers going abroad for employment when obtaining their immigration clearance has been raised.

The fee, which was previously Tk 3,500, has been raised by Tk 2,000 to Tk 5,500.

The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment issued a circular in this regard on Sunday.

According to the circular, the welfare fee-collected from workers going abroad, those already abroad, or at airports-has been revised to Tk 5,500 in line with the expansion and increase in the scope of welfare services for expatriate workers, to ensure their protection and overall welfare, and to adjust the fee with the market value of the US dollar.

Shariful Islam, deputy director of the Expatriate Welfare Des...