Mixed signal from manpower export

That Bangladesh workers' migration with employment abroad has seen a drastic decline this year is a cause for serious concern. Compared with 1.30 million in 2023, only 906,355 works left the country with employment registering a fall in overseas migration by 30.8 per cent in the 11months since January this year. Intriguingly, the good news is that remittance inflow is likely to grow, according to the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), by 32.54 per cent. This sounds anachronistic. What is the explanation for the overall development on the overseas employment front? It was a turbulent year for the global economy largely because of wars in Ukraine, Palestine, Syria and Yemen. Bangladesh, in particular, witnessed an uprising leading to the overthrow of a repressive government and suffered the natural consequence of socio-economic disruption and turmoil. For months, migration of workers either halted or was reduced to trickles. Also, the fracas over the much vaunted manpower export to Malaysia before the July-August uprising had limited the number of workers scheduled to move to that country with employment.

Saudi Arabia which was the biggest labour market for Bangladesh suddenly slashed recruitment from this country. But this may change with the kingdom hosting the 2034 FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) World Cup as the desert country will have to build several new stadiums. Then negotiation for revival of the G2G agreement with Malaysia should be initiated right now for execution next year. The reported sharp decline in the migration of women workers this year is not at all surprising. Women returnee workers have time and again narrated horrifying experiences they were subjected to in the Gulf countries. Torture and repression --- from physical assaults to sexual abuse ---they suffered are surely a positive disincentive for women's employment in Middle-East countries. Even there are reports of exploitation of Bangladeshi workers in those countries, which should be brought under the purview of ILO conventions through negotiations.

Now the growth of remittance against a decline in manpower export can happen on two counts. The most likely one is the increasing volume of remittance sent by workers through the official channels because of the government move to raise the exchange rate of dollars reducing or eliminating the gap with rates of unofficial channels such as hundi. There may be yet another positive factor responsible for augmenting the inflow of remittance. This concerns higher wages earned by semi-skilled and skilled workers who have replaced unskilled workers. The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment should know better. But unfortunately, its maintenance of expatriates' data is hardly systematic and up to date. Remittance may also go up for the simple reason of the higher exchange rate of foreign currencies workers earn with no devaluation against dollar.

Admittedly, remittance has been the next big source of earning of foreign exchange after the RMG for the country. So, there is a clear message from the fact that comparatively smaller number of expatriate workers may remit higher remittance. This can happen if programmes are taken for upskilling workers before sending them abroad. Given the high unemployment, more workers should be so trained. This has to be complemented by negotiations with the recruiting countries for fair recruitment ensuring workers' rights and privileges under the ILO conventions.