JS passes Overseas Employment Bill
The Overseas Employment and Migrants (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed in parliament yesterday by voice vote to ensure accountability from agents for migrant workers.
As per the bill placed by Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, intermediaries in foreign employment recruiting process will get recognition through registration.
Provision has been made for suspension of recruiting license without investigation and hearing, considering the seriousness of the complaint.
Provisions on sub-agent or representative appointment and related liability have been added to bring the intermediaries in the recruitment process of foreign employment under the accountability framework.
Special financial and other welfare programmes may be adopted to ensure respect, dignity, rights, safety and security of women migrant workers in foreign workplaces, according to the bill.
It also the introduction and facilitation of bank loans, tax concessions, savings, investments, financial assistance, and scholarships, among others for the welfare of migrant workers and their family.
To increase accountability,recruiting agencies will be fined a minimum of Tk 50,000 and a maximum of Tk 2 lakh for committing any crime, said the minister in the bill's objective.
During the discussion, Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman stressed the need for post mortem of deceased migrant workers, especially women, to determine their actual cause of death.
"Migrant workers are treated like criminals at the airport and also harassed on arrival. A separate desk should be set up for them at the airport," added Rahman.
Jatiya Party MP Shameem Haider Patwari demanded for separate lounge for the migrant workers in the airport while Gonoforum MP Mukabbir Khan asked for health checkups for female workers every three months to stop violence against them.
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