Bangladesh is contemplating bringing its migrant workers with HIV/AIDS-related ailment under the existing mandatory insurance coverage, given their major contribution to the national progress.
To this effect, a vital clause, which excludes HIV-positive migrant workers from insurance coverage, will be removed from the policy.
According to officials, the Wage Earners' Welfare Board (WEWB) will revise the policy to bring about the much-needed change as early as possible.
The clause in question also excludes any expatriate worker who dies in war from insurance support. The WEWB is also thinking of removing this provision.
The WEWB introduced mandatory insurance coverage in 2019 with an eye to ensuring financial protection of migrant workers with benefits in case of their disability or death.
The board signed an agreement with the state-backed life insurer Jiban Bima Corporation in December 2019.
However, in January 2023, the deal was renewed with some changes in the insurance proviso.
As per the revised policy, the maximum benefit is Tk 1.0 million in case of the death of a migrant worker.
Besides, it introduced Tk 50,000 in insurance coverage for the return within six months of a worker.
A worker needs to pay a one-time premium worth Tk 1,000 for his or her policy.
A policyholder will also be eligible for 50-100 per cent benefit depending on the degree of their injury during the coverage period of five years.
But the existing policy excludes certain workers from insurance support, including HIV-positive ones and those who die by suicide and in war.
"We're taking these issues seriously and thinking of bringing those who are HIV-positive and die in war under this insurance support," said WEWB director (finance and welfare) Shoaib Ahmad Khan.
"We're also sincere in providing insurance support to the families of the workers who committed, as many times migrant workers are victims of various unwanted situations."
However, a recent consultation on the insurance of migrant workers recommended removing the discriminatory clause from the insurance policy.
The consultation was organised by Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Programme (OKUP) in sync with the UNAIDS.
It suggested removing the clause pertinent to HIV/AIDS-related deaths and sickness of migrants from insurance policy and ensuring universal health rights of the HIV-infected ones.
According to Dr Shah Mohammad Jashim Uddin, director of the National AIDS and STD Control under the DGHS, there are an estimated 15,000 HIV patients in Bangladesh.
A significant number of them are returnees from abroad.
Mr Jashim said these workers also sent money back home. "So, why are the HIV-positive migrant workers excluded from insurance coverage?" he questioned.
"If someone is HIV-positive, there is no reason to panic like before. Treatment has improved a lot now. If an HIV-infected person takes regular treatment, he can work normally."
Mr Jashim suggested that the government play a proactive role in this regard, so an HIV-positive worker should not be sent back home.
When asked, Md Mosharraf Hossain, manager, Probasi Kormi Bima and Health Insurance of the JBC, said health problems such as dental health, mental health and HIV AIDS-positive were not usually covered by insurers internationally.
Therefore, the design of the Probasi Kormi Bima policy was like this. But after the Covid-19 pandemic, these issues are specially coming up for insurance, he told the FE.
"We'll also change the exclusion clause to bring HIV-positive and other migrant workers under the policy support."
OKUP chairman Shakirul Islam also demanded health insurance for all workers with easy access to quality health care in the destination country as well as in Bangladesh upon their return.
Even if there is a health insurance system for workers in some countries, according to him, it is only can cover the cost of primary care.
The OKUP also recommended developing user-friendly mobile apps or web platforms for easy access of migrants to policy information, claims filing and direct communication with insurers.
According to the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), 0.6-0.7 million workers go abroad from Bangladesh annually.
Bangladesh receives 3,000 to 4,000 dead bodies of migrant workers every year, reveals WEWB data.
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