Govt must ensure migrant workers' welfare
The government, recruiting agents and non-government organisations (NGOs) should work together to ensure safe and dignified employment opportunities abroad while migrants' welfare must be guaranteed for their contribution to the economy, speakers told programmes in the capital and Barisal marking International Migrants Day 2014 yesterday.
Meanwhile against the backdrop of Monday's appeal of Malaysian employers and construction contractors', the Southeast Asian country's government granted another year for foreign workers, including Bangladeshis, who registered under an amnesty programme, to get legalised.
Although the government sees to migrants' issues abroad, nothing is done upon their return, speakers told the seminar, “Reintegration of the returned migrant worker: Challenge and Opportunities”, in the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) organised by Brac, Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) and WARBE Development Foundation.
“The government must ensure legal support for migrants at their destination countries and take steps for their rehabilitation while they are coming back home,” said Hassan Imam, programme head of the Brac migration programme.
Female migrants face hurdles including harassment and verbal, physical and sexual abuse at workplaces and the government must take effective measures to combat these challenges, he said, presenting a keynote paper on the topic.
“Migrants, who return home after a certain period, have some skills. So the government and private sector can take many initiatives to ensure employment opportunities for them at home,” said Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation.
Addressing as chief guest, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said the government was preparing a database of returnee migrants.
“We are considering introducing a six-week training instead of the existing three weeks for female migrant jobseekers,” he mentioned. Shaheen Anam opined for extending the training period, adding that there must be residential facilities for female jobseekers at the six-week training.
She also suggested that the government look for new job markets for female migrants outside the Middle Eastern countries.
Earlier, the ministry brought out a colourful procession from Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban to BICC, organised a discussion and presented scholarships to migrants' children.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali spoke as chief and special guests respectively.
MALAYSIAN LEGALISATION
The Malaysian cabinet's extension decision took into consideration the major impact the deportation of some 3,52,000 foreign workers, including Bangladeshis, will have on businesses and the economy, The Star Online quoted the Malaysian home ministry.
A 2011 Malaysian government amnesty allowed foreign workers to first get registered and then either get legalised by this month or return home by upcoming January without facing any penalty. Of the around two lakh Bangladeshis who had registered, some 20,000 to 25,000 could not complete the legalisation process, said the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment sources.
The Malaysian employers and construction contractors had stated that the deportation will fuel the shortage of manpower in the industry, especially the housing sector.
The Barisal city discussion was organised by Brac, the Barisal district administration and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.
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