3.26 lakh returned home in Apr-Nov

The average monthly return of migrant workers increased by four times in the last three months than what was in previous five months, Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMRRU) said yesterday.

Between April 1 and August 27, some 85,790 migrant workers returned home from 26 countries, RMMRU said, citing government data.

The number of returnees increased to a little over 3.26 lakh as of November 30, it said.

RMMRU shared the data while unveiling its report "Pattern and Trends of Labour Migration 2020: Achievements and Challenges" during a virtual press conference.

Alongside the coronavirus pandemic, fall in global oil price, and job loss in tourism, services, and construction sectors in the Gulf countries were key reasons behind workers' return, it said.

RMMRU called upon the authorities concerned to put pressure on multilateral organisations for issuing an embargo on forced deportation of workers by host countries amid crisis period.

Besides, demand should be raised in multilateral forums to implement a mandatory "migrant protection policy" during crisis time in both receiving and sending countries. Natural disaster, economic recession and health crisis could be included in the policy, it said.

Presenting the report, RMMRU Founding Chair Prof Tasneem Siddiqui said migrant workers faced multi-dimensional challenges amid the pandemic.

"From this year's review, we could see how rights violation that migrant workers have been facing deepened further during a crisis," she added.

Amid the pandemic, many workers got stranded after coming home on holiday, many despite completing all procedure could not fly abroad, while migrant workers suffered most due to virus infection in host countries, she said.

They faced job loss and food crisis while they were detained and deported forcibly, she further said.

Responding to a query, Prof Tasneem said many returnees interviewed by RMMRU have been subject to "wage theft" of Tk 1.75 lakh on an average in the host countries.

The report said about 1.81 lakh overseas employment in this year's first quarter had a projection of 3.52 percent growth in annual employment.

However, annual overseas employment is likely to drop by 71.45 percent this year amid the pandemic, it added.

This year, 18,813 female migrant workers have employment compared to 1.04 lakh last year. About 39,274 female migrants returned home until November 30.

Migrant workers remitted about $19.69 billion as of November. If such inflow continues, the annual inward remittance is likely to increase by 17.05 percent, the report said.

Migrant workers remitted highest $4.1 billion from Saudi Arabia, followed by USA ($2.6 billion), United Arab Emirates ($2.14 billion), and Malaysia ($1.38 billion).

As of July, about 70,000 Bangladeshi expatriates tested Covid-19 positive. Besides, 2,330 Bangladeshis died abroad from the virus infection as of December 27. Of them, 989 Bangladeshis died in Saudi Arabia.

RMMRU in a survey found only 46 percent of workers sent back forcibly underwent Covid-19 tests in the host countries, said the report.

Also, a joint survey of Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants and RMMRU this year found remittance was the only source of income for 57 percent households surveyed.

On government steps, the report mentioned that the government created separate funds of Tk 200 crore and Tk 500 crore as loan support for returnee migrants. Besides, Bangladesh Bank announced a separate scheme for the returnees.

Also, the government this year have taken an initiative to regularise "middlemen" while host countries -- Saudi Arabia and Qatar -- announced labour reform initiatives.

The report said despite the pandemic situation, irregular migration on different routes to reach European countries continued.

Addressing the press conference, Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam said migrant workers were unfairly blamed for Covid-19 transmission in some host countries although such transmission occurred due to mismanagement.

Eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik said it is needless to say there have been huge ups and downs in the livelihood of Bangladeshi migrant workers this year amid the pandemic.