Monitoring foreign workers
People are moving around the world in search of jobs. This has been going on from ancient time, but the current movement of people is somewhat different from the past. These days, people even take risk with their lives to move from less developed countries to relatively developed countries. In fact, the growing demand for skilled manpower in developed countries prompts people (particularly skilled) to take risks.
It is estimated that labour migration started some six thousand years back to satisfy peoples' needs. Around two thousand years back people began rehabilitation in the Pacific islands. The Greeks started their expansion as early as 728 B.C.
The export of manpower started around the eighteenth century. This practice, however, degenerated later into slavery, which started in the Middle Eastern countries and Asia between the ninth and thirteenth centuries. The business expanded because of growing demand for labourers and managers.
The process of globalisation gained momentum in the 20th and 21st centuries. The driving force behind this phenomenon was trade in commodities, service, capital and free flow of manpower. Europe and U.S.A were centre points. Japan entered the process in 1950. In 2000 China and India joined in. Despite obstructions from developed countries to contain the flow of labour migration, the "push and pull" factor of the process of labour migration is increasing.
Though our country is one of the biggest exporters of labour in the world, we are not aware of the number of foreign workers in Bangladesh. It seems our administration has not yet been able to realise the importance of watching the movement of foreign workers in the country. With the global increase of terrorist activities, monitoring the movement of foreign workers has become all the more important.
It is said that we have 300,000 foreign workers staying legally in our country and 500,000 are staying illegally. Unfortunately, neither the National Board of Revenue (NBR) nor the Bangladesh Statistical Bureau (BSB) has any accurate figures of illegal foreign workers. It is reported that some of them are involved in activities regarded as threat to the security of the country, and some are engaged in the narcotics trade.
It is learnt that many foreign workers do not renew their work permits. It is suspected that these people are not paying income tax, causing loss of revenue to the government.
Our government has set up an eight-member committee under the chairmanship of Chairman Board of Investment to prepare an updated list of foreigners staying in Bangladesh. Regrettably, the said committee has not yet been able to start work as per Bangladesh Information Service (a research organisation). The majority of foreign garments workers are Indians.
According to Bangladesh Enterprise for Security and Services, the number of illegally staying foreign workers is more than 500,000.
According to BGMEA, the number of registered buying houses in Bangladesh is more than 1,400. In addition, there are some unregistered buying houses. It is reliably learnt that about 500 unregistered buying houses are run by foreigners who are using fake passports. In some cases, it is alleged, even the validity of visas has expired. Technicians and IT experts are working with tourist visas.
The fact is that some Indians are showing interest in entering Bangladesh garments industry because of much greater profit due to cheaper labour. Furthermore, Indians are occupying important positions in factories owned by Indians. Due to lack of availability of Bangladeshi experts in fashion and design, Bangladesh has become dependent on India and Sri Lanka.
It is unfortunate that foreign companies are siphoning off more profit from Bangladesh each year compared to investment. During the last ten years (2000-2010) foreign companies have taken away $4.8 billion worth of profit and dividend. The rate of profit was 385% and rate of increase in investment was only 72%. This is possible because of weak investment policy of Bangladesh.
Simply collection of statistics, or high level meetings, or arresting some foreign workers or investors do not solve the problem of investment or siphoning of profit. We must have sound investment policy. We have to concentrate on monitoring foreign workers. It is well known that Bangladesh is vulnerable to infiltration or entry of terrorists.
In formulating a sound investment policy, the following points are to be focused:
* Substantial improvement in maintaining data about foreign workers;
* Repatriation of profit and remittance of foreign workers' salary, etc. may be closely monitored;
* The employing firms (both local and foreign) may be made accountable about payment of income tax by foreign workers, and
* The jobs of BOI may be professionalised.
In adopting a policy for monitoring the foreign workers let us be careful about our treatment toward them. They must not be harassed or discouraged. The policy will have to be balanced.
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