Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Labor and Social Development has lifted a ban on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers, a report said.

The ban was in force for the past six years except for domestic helps from the country, said the Arab News report.

Welcoming the development, Bangladesh Ambassador Golam Moshi told the newspaper that the lifting of the ban will pave the way for all categories of Bangladeshi workers to be employed in Saudi Arabia, including skilled, unskilled, professionals such as doctors, nurses, teachers, farm and construction workers.

Currently, there are about 1.3 million Bangladeshi workers in the kingdom, the report said.