‘Reintegration loan’ for migrant workers

While we appreciate the government's initiative to provide our returnee migrant workers with special loans for their economic reintegration, the loan schemes have unfortunately fallen short of delivering the expected results because of the way they have been designed. Our migrant workers, now stuck at home, are finding some of the terms and conditions of the loan schemes—even for Tk 2-5 lakh—difficult to fulfil, especially those who do not own any property or are financially insolvent. While the four percent interest rate is high considering the financial condition of the returnees, the grace period against loan in most ventures is limited to one month only, meaning that the loan takers will have to start paying instalments almost immediately after taking out the loan.

The mismanagement of the government agencies concerned in handling the present migrant worker crisis is upsetting not only because the government has failed in formulating a comprehensive plan for our workers' safe and hassle-free return to their workplaces, but also because its reintegration plan has many limitations. According to the expatriates' welfare ministry, around 2.25 lakh migrant workers, including 25,436 women, came home between April 1 and October 24; many of them returned after losing their jobs in the host countries due to the economic fallout of the pandemic. Now they face the risk of slipping into further poverty. 

To make the reintegration process of our returnee migrant workers easier, the government needs to make the terms and conditions for getting the loans more flexible. We are hopeful that with proper planning the government can efficiently disburse the Tk 200 crore special fund, created with money from Wage Earners' Welfare Board, to the workers who need it the most. Needless to say, returnee reintegration is a complex thing and only providing loans is not enough to do that. Our returnee migrant workers need to be properly educated and trained so they can start small ventures. Besides, their reintegration can only be sustainable if they can be engaged in jobs or businesses based on their skills.