Expatriate workers are more than just numbers

In a recent parliamentary session, the Minister of State for Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment disclosed the government's ambitious plan to send six million workers abroad over the next five years. The plan seems achievable, if seen in the context of outflow of Bangladeshi workers in recent years. It might become a daunting task, however, if the authorities fail to address the issues that have led several countries, including Malaysia, the Maldives, and Oman, to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi workers.

The global labour market is highly competitive and dynamic. Many developed countries are experiencing negative birth rates, leading to a declining youth population. This has resulted in a growing shortage of local manpower for jobs in agriculture, construction, and cleaning. Additionally, the demand for skilled workers in various technical fields has been increasing in many advanced economies. These countries are adjusting their immigration policies to welcome young workers from less developed countries. The question many ask is whether Bangladesh is taking appropriate measures to train and send skilled workers to these countries.

According to the World Migration Report 2024 of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Bangladesh is the sixth-largest migrant source country globally but ranks eighth in terms of remittance receipts. Both Pakistan and the Philippines rank behind Bangladesh as migrant source countries, but they are far ahead of Bangladesh in receiving remittances. According to the IOM report, in 2022, Bangladesh received US$ 21.50 billion in remittances. In comparison, India, which ranks first, received US$ 111.22 billion, followed by Mexico receiving US$ 61.10 billion, China US$ 51 billion, the Philippines US$ 38.05 billion, France US$ 30.04 billion, Pakistan US$ 29.87 billion, and Egypt US$ 28.33 billion.

In 2023, despite sending a record 1.2 million workers abroad, Bangladesh received US$ 21.82 billion in remittances. This is only a slight increase from the US$ 21.50 billion received in 2022 when 1.136 million Bangladeshi workers went abroad. Meanwhile, India sent 1.3 million workers and received US$ 111.22 billion in remittances in 2022. This comparison reveals that even though the number of workers sent abroad by Bangladesh and India had been almost the same, Bangladesh's remittance earnings were only one-fifth of India's. This indicates that increasing the number of migrants does not necessarily proportionally increase remittances.

The growth of remittances depends on several factors: the total number of Bangladeshis working abroad, the proportion of Bangladeshi immigrants in high-income countries, the percentage of skilled workers among them, and the share of income sent through legitimate channels. Bangladesh can significantly boost remittance inflows by increasing the number of skilled workers, sending workers to high-income countries, and curbing illegal remittance channels.

Remittances from Bangladeshis working abroad are the second-largest source of foreign exchange for the country after the ready-made garment industry. The authorities often seem quite happy with their own performance in the matters of sending a large number of workers abroad, providing jobs not available here, and boosting remittance inflows. Considering its enormous importance, it would be expected that the manpower export sector, would be managed in the best possible manner. Sadly, however, there is a prevailing tendency to perceive the red, yellow, and blue-collar migrant workers as human digits and walking statistics. Such skewed perception obscures the underlying instability under the cover of a stable source of foreign exchange earnings.

For example, the oft-reported issue of migrant workers' endndless suffering, from the beginning of the migration process to their workplaces - and beyond - has never received the attention it deserves. The government's responsibility seemingly ends with setting a maximum fee that can be charged to outbound workers for various destinations. Recruiting agencies, however, charge four to five times higher than the government-set fees. Unfortunately, there is no accountability. Aspiring expatriate workers are forced to sign a form declaring they only paid the government-fixed charge; otherwise, the recruiting agencies withdraw the job offer.

Additionally, fraudulent recruiting agencies frequently offer bogus visas and lure workers abroad to non-existent jobs. When migrant workers - most of whom hail from poor backgrounds - don't find the jobs they were promised or fail to produce the proper papers, they face all sorts of problems in foreign lands. They are often on the run to escape police detection, risk being deported, or get caught by the police as illegal migrants and jailed.

In some of the worst-case scenarios, workers take shelter like fugitives in jungles or remote places and lead miserable lives. Many have been brutally tortured by the police for breaking migration laws, while others became victims of human traffickers. Is this what innocent Bangladeshi job seekers deserve? Who is responsible for their suffering? More importantly, how can the government turn a blind eye to their suffering and not offer help?

Expatriate workers are not just numbers and should never be treated as such. They are the unsung heroes of Bangladesh, the breadwinners for their families and the nation. The true test for Bangladesh lies not in increasing the number of its expatriate workers, but in the quality of the people it sends abroad to serve the world, where demand for good quality is always high. So, invest in them, turn them into skilled human resources, and protect them from harassment, fraud and unsafe working conditions.

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