Last year the President issued the executive order to ban entry of travelers holding passports from Bangladesh and Myanmar from entering into Palau. This was done in connection with the on-going work to account for the actual number of foreign workers currently in Palau, and due to conflicts in Myanmar causing a lot of refugees to flee into Bangladesh with some of them already here.
There have been problems encountered with the re-entry of Bangladesh workers into Palau because of the order and prompted the visit of the Ambassador from Manila. Minister Pierantozzi and Ambassador Chowdhury met on Monday and discussed diplomatic and other possible relations between the two countries and accreditation of the Bangladesh Embassy in Manila to Palau. There was also discussion on the welfare of Bangladesh Nationals who were brought to here by Palauan employers, but who were unable to carry out their obligations as employers which have stranded many Bangladesh workers here who have had to find other jobs and fend for themselves.
Minister Pierantozzi thanked the Ambassador for his visit to Palau, explaining that Palau was happy to receive the Ambassador as this meant the first step towards resolving outstanding issues with Bangladesh Nationals in Palau. Palau as a member of the United Nations, wishes also to ensure that all foreign workers in Palau are accounted for and that they are treated fairly and justly.
Ambassador Chowdhury invited President Johnson Toribiong, after the President returned from a trip abroad, to dinner with the Minister of State, Minister Jackson Ngiraingas, Minister Harry Fritz and Ombudsman Moses Uludong. At the dinner at the Taj, the President assured the Ambassador that as soon as the task force reviewing the status of all foreign workers in Palau completed its report, the President will grant the Ambassador’s request for improved relations between two countries. The President also thanked the Ambassador for his visit as this was the first step towards good relations and possible economic development and assistance between the two countries.
