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Editorial

Govt sets target of 7.5 lakh migrant workers

Remittance to be highest on record


Bangladeshpost
Published : 06 Jan 2020 07:43 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 04:21 AM

Around 7.5 lakh trained and skilled workers will be sent abroad in five different labour markets. Last year, the remittance increased more than 22 percent after a 2 percent incentive declared by the government. Authorities are hopeful that the remittance this year will cross $20 billion.  The government is planning on sending trained and skilled workers to new labour markets which have not been explored by us before including Cambodia, Seychelles, Herzegovina, Romania, Hungary, Poland, China and other foreign countries. 

 State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmed said that after sending workers beyond the target last year, there is now demand for trained and skilled manpower is coming from different countries in Eastern Europe. The authorities are now focusing on creating good labour markets for expatriate workers all over the world. The process has already been started. 

The workers will be given special travel facilities onboard Biman Bangladesh Airlines and provided with BMET smart card. There is also talk of providing discounted ticket prices for the workers. The ministry is working to ensure that there are no irregularities in the overseas employment sector. 

Stringent measures are being taken to ensure the immigrants’ security and so far 21 operations were carried out by Mobile Court and Inter Ministry Task force. Many immigrant workers go abroad illegally and therefore are victimized by the fraudulent agencies. 

The authorities must ensure that these types of agencies are shut down for good and no longer able to exploit vulnerable people. The media must do its part in raising awareness among the unsuspecting populace and ensure that no one falls victim to these types of scams. 

In the last year, we witnessed countless deaths of migrant workers. There must be stricter laws in place so that these tragedies are avoided in the future. These migrant workers risk their lives and safety due to financial needs. The remittance we receive from migrant workers is crucial for our country’s economy. The least we can do for them is to ensure their safety and wellbeing.