Migrant Workers’ Crises During Pandemic: Experts stress regional cooperation, govt action
Migration experts from across South Asian countries yesterday stressed for regional cooperation and action from governments to address problems of migrant workers in distress during the coronavirus pandemic.
Workers of South Asian countries were losing wages and jobs, they said during an e-symposium, organised by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) on "Migrant Workers of South Asia: Experiences of Return, Repatriation and Deportation".
Prof CR Abrar, executive director of RMMRU, referred to Bangladesh foreign minister's remarks, and said following the coronavirus outbreak, some labour-receiving countries have asked Bangladesh to take back its migrant workers.
The countries have threatened to not hire workers from Bangladesh in future if it were to refuse to take back migrant workers, he said. "It's unfortunate and a breach of diplomatic protocols."
Jagannath Adhikari, senior visiting fellow at Australian National University, Canberra, said whenever any crisis emerges -- whether it is related to economic or health, migrant workers have to suffer most.
This has been evident during the coronavirus pandemic, he said.
Prof S Irudaya Rajan, chair of Centre for Development Studies in Kerala, India said at least 15 lakh migrant workers of Indian nationality are estimated to return home due to the pandemic.
Ganesh Gurung, chair of Nepal Institute of Development Studies in Kathmandu, said some 17,792 Nepalese migrant workers were infected with coronavirus in 35 countries, of whom 127 have died.
He also said the Nepal Supreme Court recently gave a verdict to use money from migrant workers' welfare fund for their wellbeing during the pandemic.
Prof Nasra M Shah of Lahore School of Economics in Pakistan and L Kumara Ruhunage, former additional general manager of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, among others, address the virtual conference.
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