‘Strengthen labour wings for expats’ social protection’

The government must strengthen labour wings in destination countries to ensure social protections for migrant workers, said speakers at a programme in Dhaka today.

As the migration sector has emerged as a source of employment in foreign countries for millions of Bangladeshis, their rights for the protection cannot be ignored, they added.

They were addressing a discussion on ‘Social Protection and Migration,’ organised by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) with the help of International Labour Organisation (ILO) at the conference hall of Business Faculty of Dhaka University.

Skill development for the migrant jobseekers must be reinforced simultaneously to help them find better jobs and wages in the labour markets, the speakers also said.

Four discussants presented separate policy briefs on labour demand, supply, migration trends and poverty trends at the programme.

While discussing on the growing number of the migrant jobseekers and their protections, ASM Ali Ashraf, associate professor of DU’s International Relations department, said the labour wings are highly understaffed and thus the migrants are being deprived of getting proper protections.

“Pro-active role of the diplomats can protect migrant workers at destination countries. So, inter-ministerial coordination must be ensured for the sake of ensuring the migrant workers’ social protection,” Ali Ashraf said.

He also stressed on the mainstream policy decision of the government to include the social protection.

RMMRU Executive Committee Member SN Azad said the government and stakeholders can play vital role in ensuring better management in the migration sector.

“Policies are yet to address migration as a part of composite development strategy for poverty reduction,” he mentioned.

RMMRU Founder Chair Prof Tasneem Siddiqui moderated the programme while DU teachers Sayema Haque Bidisha and Kamrul Islam also took part in the discussion.