‘Hope for migrants’
The government is working to prepare a demand letter of minimum salary for migrant workers in different countries, said Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment Minister Imran Ahmad yesterday.
He was speaking to reporters after a seminar titled "Prottasha: Hope for Migrants" at a hotel in the capital yesterday. The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment, European Union, IOM and Brac organised the event.
The minister said, "The number of our workers going abroad has become 11 lakh this year (year 2022). But it could reach 15-16 lakh in the current fiscal year if workers go to Malaysia as per the government to government treaty."
At this time, the minister highlighted the difference between the salaries of Bangladeshis and workers from other countries working in Saudi Arabia.
"Our workers in Saudi get 800 riyals (minimum) and workers of other countries get 1,000- 1,200 riyals (minimum). We are preparing a demand letter asking host countries to pay a fixed minimum wage to our workers similar to other countries."
Regarding the cost of immigration, the minister said, "Immigration is not a one-way process. It happens from both sides. As a worker-sending country, we have some limitations. But we do not control the countries to which we send workers to."
Regarding Malaysia, the minister said, "According to our MoU with Malaysia, the cost is around Tk 80,000. But I hear, they are charging Tk 2 to 3 lakh for immigration."
"Government will take action against the recruitment agencies who are collecting fake medicals and extra money in the name of sending workers to Malaysia. Instructions have already been given regarding this. We will terminate all licenses."
Bernd Spanier, deputy head of delegation of the European Union in Dhaka, and Safi Rahman Khan, Brac's director of education, skill development and immigration, also spoke at the event.
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