Developing skilled migrant workers
Friday, 29 June 2007
BANGLADESHI expatriates are expected to remit a record $6.0 billion during the outgoing financial year (2006-07). The amount is likely to rise further in the upcoming fiscal as a substantial number of workers are in the process of taking employments in Malaysia and South Korea and also in a few Middle Eastern countries that are now basking in soaring oil prices. The amount remitted by the Bangladesh nationals, in real terms, is almost equivalent to the country's total export earning. For, the real annual income from exports if estimated in terms of value addition of the largest export earner - the readymade garment sector - would be slightly higher than the annual remittance inflow.
The inflow of remittance has been rising consistently over the last few years. But the remittance income, if viewed in the context of number of Bangladeshis working abroad, is much lower, mainly because of the fact that the majority of the workers are unskilled labourers engaged in low-paid odd jobs. Many of the expatriate unskilled workers cannot even earn during their contracted employment period the amount equivalent to the amount of money they usually pay to the manpower agents. As unskilled workers, in most cases, they are maltreated by their employers and subjected to all kinds of harassments. Even most Bangladeshis who could manage their illegal entry into European and North American countries are engaged in odd jobs or sell flowers and other items on the pavements in major cities. Besides being unskilled labourers, most Bangladeshi expatriate workers encounter language problem as they cannot communicate in any language other than Bengali. Their lack of ability to communicate in English language do very often put them in an embarrassing situation on flights and at international airports and their workplaces. Had these workers been skilled labourers and a little bit of proficient in English, they would have fetched higher amounts of money for themselves and for the country. For instance, a heavy-duty truck driver or a nurse or a medical technician does earn several times more than an unskilled labourer. Skilled and English-speaking workers from India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka are mainly occupying these jobs.
Unfortunately, the authorities concerned here have remained content with the amount remitted by the unskilled Bangladeshis workers at abroad and made no attempts to produce skilled hands for global labour market. Nor they have ever conducted a strategic survey to know about the jobs which are in high demand in countries that employ migrant workers and tried to create a manpower pool accordingly. However, the interim administration is expected to make a modest beginning in this regard. The ministry of expatriate welfare and overseas employment will sign soon a memorandum of understanding with an Australian firm under which the latter would impart offshore skill training to potential unskilled migrant Bangladeshi workers to help them take up jobs in Australia. The Australian agency will extend a wide range of training facilities-from English language course to catering to vocational training-with a view to helping Bangladeshis to get a foothold in the Australian job market. But the government needs to make a comprehensive plan to churn out skilled and semi-skilled workers for country specific jobs. For, the demands for skilled workers vary from country to country. However, the top priority should be attached to developing a skilled labour force that can at least manage communications with others in English language.
The inflow of remittance has been rising consistently over the last few years. But the remittance income, if viewed in the context of number of Bangladeshis working abroad, is much lower, mainly because of the fact that the majority of the workers are unskilled labourers engaged in low-paid odd jobs. Many of the expatriate unskilled workers cannot even earn during their contracted employment period the amount equivalent to the amount of money they usually pay to the manpower agents. As unskilled workers, in most cases, they are maltreated by their employers and subjected to all kinds of harassments. Even most Bangladeshis who could manage their illegal entry into European and North American countries are engaged in odd jobs or sell flowers and other items on the pavements in major cities. Besides being unskilled labourers, most Bangladeshi expatriate workers encounter language problem as they cannot communicate in any language other than Bengali. Their lack of ability to communicate in English language do very often put them in an embarrassing situation on flights and at international airports and their workplaces. Had these workers been skilled labourers and a little bit of proficient in English, they would have fetched higher amounts of money for themselves and for the country. For instance, a heavy-duty truck driver or a nurse or a medical technician does earn several times more than an unskilled labourer. Skilled and English-speaking workers from India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka are mainly occupying these jobs.
Unfortunately, the authorities concerned here have remained content with the amount remitted by the unskilled Bangladeshis workers at abroad and made no attempts to produce skilled hands for global labour market. Nor they have ever conducted a strategic survey to know about the jobs which are in high demand in countries that employ migrant workers and tried to create a manpower pool accordingly. However, the interim administration is expected to make a modest beginning in this regard. The ministry of expatriate welfare and overseas employment will sign soon a memorandum of understanding with an Australian firm under which the latter would impart offshore skill training to potential unskilled migrant Bangladeshi workers to help them take up jobs in Australia. The Australian agency will extend a wide range of training facilities-from English language course to catering to vocational training-with a view to helping Bangladeshis to get a foothold in the Australian job market. But the government needs to make a comprehensive plan to churn out skilled and semi-skilled workers for country specific jobs. For, the demands for skilled workers vary from country to country. However, the top priority should be attached to developing a skilled labour force that can at least manage communications with others in English language.