Procedural complexities delay policy formulation

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S M Jahangir
An official move to make life insurance coverage mandatory for outbound Bangladeshi workers is set to suffer a blow due to some procedural and bureaucratic complexities, sources said.
Even after several months of exercise, the authorities are yet to finalise a draft policy that will help protect expatriate workers, who currently send home nearly US$ 10-billion worth of remittance annually, from any unpleasant risks.
Although Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE) in consultation with other stakeholders drafted a policy a few months back, it has not yet given the proposed policy a final shape.
A senior government official familiar with the policy formulation process told the FE that the draft policy after being prepared by an official committee, was sent to the Chief Controller of Insurance (CCI) for scrutiny.
After examining as to whether the existing insurance policy allows such mandatory insurance coverage or not, the CCI gave its nod and had also sent it back to the EWOE, said the official.
Besides, the ministry had also invited opinions and suggestions from the stakeholders, including the department of insurance, relevant government agencies and manpower recruiting agents, he mentioned.
Sources, have identified some technical problems along with a dilly-dally attitude of the authorities concerned as major reasons for the delay in finalising the policy.
Among others, the payment system of premium and involvement of life insurance companies for insurance coverage have become the major issues to be dealt with.
According to them, the proposed policy aims to protect expatriate Bangladeshi workers in case of unpleasant incidents like death, casualty, illness, accident, physical incapacitation and others while working abroad, said the official.
Another objective of the proposed policy is to ensure welfare of the expatriate workers, whose remittances are an integral part of the economy of Bangladesh.
"One of the key purpose of framing the policy is to help expatriate Bangladeshi workers and their families reduce vulnerability in case of their death and other health-related problems while working abroad," said a senior MEWOE official.
Due to the absence of such insurance coverage, many of the expatriate workers have to face immense insecurity in case of their physical casualties, officials said, adding that sometimes, their families become totally helpless because of incidences, he observed.