In a bid to pursue a so-called better life abroad, many Bangladeshis are often migrating, falling victim to countless abuse and exploitation by their employers. The government has instructed the authorities concerned to make the process of manpower export transparent and inform everyone of the matter to prevent fraud.
In particular, it has been emphasised that workers who are going abroad should maintain liaison with the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment so that they do not have to pay extra money. It should be made clear who are the authorities and how much will be the cost of migration. They (workers) should also be informed that if they need money, they can take loans through Probashi Kallyan Bank.
Bangladesh has achieved seventh position in the world in terms of expatriate income. More than 10 million expatriates are sending remittance home. With their contribution, the foreign exchange reserves reached the milestone of $45 billion for the first time on May 3. Despite the coronavirus epidemic, expatriates have sent about $21 billion in the current fiscal year.
Not only the government but also non-governmental
organisations should come forward and work together
prioritising the overall welfare of the expatriates
There are many cases of endless pain of expatriates and jobseekers as they are often deceived by recruiting agency brokers and fraudulent agencies.
Workers’ rights should be ensured in different countries through government initiatives. The four pillars of the ILO Decent Work Agenda that includes standards and rights at work, employment creation and enterprise development, social protection and social dialogue, should be ensured.
Awareness campaigns and enabling them to access this help are also very important. These directions regarding where they can get immediate help or what they can do in these situations should be repeatedly broadcast through media outlets.
As the embassies overseas lack manpower, involving the expatriates of Bengali communities as volunteers so that it becomes possible to communicate with the migrant workers once every month.
More initiatives should be taken for the expatriates, including training and counselling. Not just the government but non-governmental organisations should also come forward and work together prioritizing the overall welfare of the expatriates.
