Dhaka - Thousands of Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait began reporting back to their jobs Wednesday after their employers in the oil-rich state agreed to meet their demands for higher wages, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said.

Acting Foreign Secretary MAK Mahmud said the Bangladeshi mission in Kuwait confirmed that 12,000 workers who had walked off their jobs over simmering discontent on wages were returning to work.

The Kuwaiti companies hiring the Bangladeshis had agreed to give a raise to the expatriate workers who were mostly doing unskilled odd jobs, Mahmud added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment claimed several striking workers were arrested after Kuwait's police used force to disperse demonstrations.

A sizeable number of Bangladeshi workers were also injured in the violence.

The wealthy Gulf state is a major market for Bangladesh's unskilled labour. (dpa)