Decline in overseas jobs for Bangladeshi migrants

FE Team | Published: December 18, 2018 21:15:05

An article published in the Financial Express on December 18 reported that there has been a decline in overseas jobs for Bangladeshi migrant workers in 2018.
The article highlighted that according to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE), 712,342 workers migrated to different countries of the world from Bangladesh until December 12 of this year. This is a fall from 1.0 million workers who were sent abroad in 2017.
Government officials attributed this sharp fall to the shrinking job opportunities for male migrant workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which has been a prime destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers for decades. Around 1,000 male workers returned home from KSA. Many have come back from countries like Kuwait, Qatar and Malaysia between April and December of this year. Additionally, many women migrant workers have returned home from KSA after facing workplace exploitation.
The EWOE ministry has claimed that changes in global leaderships, economic recessions and reforms in destinations are the causes behind the decline in overseas jobs for Bangladeshis in 2018.
I believe it is time for Bangladesh to diversify the overseas destinations for Bangladeshi workers. Since 1976, over 12 million Bangladeshi workers had gone for work to 168 countries. Of them, 80 per cent was employed by Middle Eastern countries including KSA, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training. These countries are nearly saturated with migrant workers from Bangladesh and other countries.
As female migrant workers are facing workplace exploitation in Middle-east countries, some East Asian countries can be considered. In countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and others, there is a growing demand for foreign housemaids and female salespeople.
Also, there is a good scope for male migrant workers in China and some countries of Europe where real estate and industries sectors are booming. But prior to that, skill development and some training will be necessary. That way, Bangladeshi migrant workers can apply for skilled positions with high salaries and benefits. This method has been followed by many countries in South Asia including India, Sri Lanka and countries like the Philippines over past decades.
Akibul Javed,
Indira Road, Dhaka