Skill development needed for potential migrant workers

Remittance is one of the major sources of foreign exchange for Bangladesh. This remittance is sent by Bangladeshi workers working in different countries worldwide. There are also middle-class and some upper-class Bangladeshi citizens living and working abroad. The middle-class is engaged in various professions abroad. Doctors, engineers, teachers, and other professionals are among them. Abroad, people in these professions earn a good income. However, the remittances sent by such professionals to the country are only a minuscule fraction of the total remittance inflow. The payment that the workers earn is by no means satisfactory. There are allegations that Bangladeshi workers working abroad get paid less than workers in other countries due to various reasons.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established the Ministry of Labour and Manpower on January 20 1972, to revive the economy of the war-torn, newly independent Bangladesh. Then, from the middle of the 1970s, manpower exports to the Middle East began. Men, as well as women, began to change their destinies by working abroad. The wheel of economic development of the country started turning through their remittances. The unemployment scenario of the country also improved a great deal. Following this, a separate ministry named ‘Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment’ was formed on December 20, 2001.

Expatriate men and expatriate women play an important role in the economy of Bangladesh. The migration of women workers started in 1991 with the sending of 189 women workers abroad. According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, there are currently 1 crore 26 lakh 44 thousand 56 expatriates in 179 countries, of which about 1 million are women workers. In a country with a large population, more than 2 million male and female workers are being added to the labour market every year, but the employment rate is much lower than this. As a result, we are forced to think about labour migration. According to a survey, women are far ahead of men in sending money to the country. Because they send almost all of their income to
the country.

Bangladeshi women are also now working as expatriate workers. The number of women workers working abroad is not very low. The experience of women working in foreign lands is unfortunately not pleasant. A large proportion of expatriate women go to the Middle East as domestic workers. Since 2014, many women workers have started going to Saudi Arabia. These women workers are also being cheated in various ways due to dishonest syndicates and increased emigration costs to UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon, etc. Due to middlemen, a large amount of money has to be counted. But despite spending too much money and accepting so much sacrifice, they are suffering from various problems. Women who go abroad as labourers are not well educated and unskilled. Those who do not have other qualifications and skills have to work as housemaids in different homesteads. They have to work for long hours because there are no specific contracts and no vacation arrangements. They don’t get paid regularly. What is more alarming is that many women working in menial jobs are also physically abused. Many women are subjected to various forms of intimidation and sexual harassment.

Bangladesh set up missions abroad to provide various facilities and protect the interests of the Bangladeshis staying abroad. But many women workers cannot complain to the embassy if they are tortured. Many of them hesitate to complain, fearing embarrassment.

These expatriate workers work hard on foreign soil. Their food and accommodation facilities are also unsatisfactory. Bangladesh’s economy is being enriched by the income of migrant workers. Remittances from expatriate workers are used for goods imported to Bangladesh from abroad. Remittances from expatriate workers play a vital role in financing Bangladesh’s imports. In this sense, remittances have a role in creating wealth inequality in the country.

Last year, about 70,000 women workers migrated to different countries, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan, for employment. But in 2020, this number was only 22 thousand. In November last year, a record number of 11,000 women workers went abroad. However, no specific information is available about women workers going abroad.

The whole matter depends on the agreement reached with Bangladesh on labour export to other countries. In addition, requirements in labour-importing countries are also significant issues. Many women workers from the Philippines go to work in Middle Eastern countries. Filipino female workers earn much more than Bangladeshi women workers. Women workers from the Philippines are quite smart. According to various sources, they use their smartness to force employers to exercise restraint, which is not very common among Bangladeshi women workers. Women workers who could not survive abroad would not be in such danger if they were educated. Policymakers need to work out the necessary strategies for the welfare of expatriate women workers.

Although the labour wings of the Bangladeshi embassies are self-sufficient, there are allegations that the desired service is not being provided. To succeed in any project, it is necessary to formulate sound policies and proper implementation. Bangladesh is still at the bottom of the international labour market. The way to get rid of low-level employment is to create skilled manpower with quality training.

In the media, it often comes to our notice that many women workers have to work non-stop for long periods. Apart from not getting their salaries on time and not being allowed to eat for a long time, many women migrant workers have returned to the country after suffering from insecurity and physical and mental abuse. According to statistics, 35 per cent of women returning from abroad are victims of physical or sexual abuse, and 44 per cent of women are not paid their dues. In 2020, 4 lakh 25 thousand 696 workers returned from abroad, of which 50 thousand 619 are women. Most of these women are victims of abuse in one way or another. As a result, these women workers have been subjected to degrading and inhumane treatment even after returning to the country.

According to a research report on the social and economic status of migrant women workers returning to the country, 55 per cent of the returning women workers are physically ill, and 29 per cent are mentally ill and six per cent have not received treatment for mental illnesses.

Even after this, Bangladeshi women are going to different countries, including the Middle East, to change their destinies. With the dream of ensuring prosperity for their families. The foreign exchange reserves are increasing due to their remittances. But the smiles on the faces of many of them are disappearing. The families concerned often worry about their near and dear ones working abroad. Women workers must be trained before being sent to the Middle East or other parts of the world. The government must provide all kinds of security to women workers. Women workers should be sent to caregivers, garments or other occupations instead of domestic work. In case of any intimidation or harassment of women workers abroad, it is necessary to provide immediate assistance. The Embassies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Overseas Employment and Expatriate Welfare, Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training must ensure technical training of workers, an increase of employment opportunities, and protection and rights of migrant workers in line with the global market practices.

The ILO works to protect the rights of migrants or workers in the country. There are several international conventions. We want the whole world to accept these conventions. This will ensure the rights of any worker. Social protection should be created to protect the rights of workers. If the rights of any worker are violated then all parties can solve the problem through negotiations. The private sector must be included at all levels. The last important aspect of the ILO is social security. In 2016, a Welfare Act was approved. The government has shown sincerity in enacting laws. Now the government should implement these laws properly. Otherwise, immigrants will not be able to enjoy the consequences. The government should take the initiative to make expatriate welfare more prosperous in every district. So that the families of the migrants can bring the desired service. It is essential to take these services to the next level.

The writer is a researcher and columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]