Form commission to rule manpower sector, speakers tell discussion
Monday, 25 August 2008
Formation of a regulatory commission is a must to protect the rights of the migrant workers, speakers said Sunday at an opinion-sharing meeting in the capital, reports UNB.
Some of the speakers came down heavily on the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment for its reported failure in protecting the interests of the migrant workers, as they are regularly harassed by their employers abroad or cheated by local manpower agencies.
Economist Abu Ahmed said the Bangladeshi labourers officially sent more than $6.0 billion in remittances last year, but the wage earners always face difficulties.
"It's unfortunate. The government should form a regulatory commission to protect their rights," he said.
He said migrant workers, legal and illegal, every year remit a huge amount of money that helps keep the national economy afloat amid various economic challenges.
Actionaid, a Johannesburg-headquartered non-government organisation, and Nagorik Songhoti jointly organised the meeting on 'Rights of Migrant Labourers' at the National Press Club.
According to the Bangladesh Bank statistics, more than $6.0 billion came from overseas workers in 2007. The government expects the amount will touch $9.0 billion mark by the end of this year. The remittance stands as the second largest source of foreign exchange after the RMG sector, which last year brought in $8.0 billion.
Referring to recent chaos in Kuwait, which caused deportation of hundreds of Bangladeshi workers, ex-ambassador Maj Gen (Retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury said nothing could be gained through legal fight with the Kuwaiti government.
He made the statement because the gulf nation's law has no provision that ensures rights of the foreign workers. He said the expatriate welfare ministry under its current form is of no use, as it has failed to safeguard the expatriate workers' rights.
He said it has thoroughly failed to impart necessary training, build accommodation or healthcare facilities for the workers. "Some Tk 200 million budget meant annually for the ministry is mostly used for the entertainment of the ministry people," he said.
He added that it has become imperative to form a regulatory commission with people from various professional bodies, recruiting agencies, and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury said there should be adequate training facilities for the workers under the state sponsorship, as Bangladeshi workers lag behind compared with the workers of other countries under SAARC.
He said the government should tighten monitoring the activities of the recruiting agencies, and rogue agencies should be brought to book.
Didarul Alam, one of the deported workers from Kuwait, described his sufferings under his Kuwaiti employer and the atrocities of the police of the Gulf nation.
He said he was detained for demanding due payment. "We didn't get water to drink in the custody. The officials tortured me mercilessly," he said. "This is really inhuman," he said. "We didn't do anything wrong."
Golam Mostofa, president of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), said his office would take stern action against the agencies that cheat people.
Mostofa alleged that Bangladesh's diplomatic missions abroad do not adequately standby the migrant workers when troubles arise.
He appealed to the government to give financial assistance to the workers who have been deported from Kuwait.
Some of the speakers came down heavily on the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment for its reported failure in protecting the interests of the migrant workers, as they are regularly harassed by their employers abroad or cheated by local manpower agencies.
Economist Abu Ahmed said the Bangladeshi labourers officially sent more than $6.0 billion in remittances last year, but the wage earners always face difficulties.
"It's unfortunate. The government should form a regulatory commission to protect their rights," he said.
He said migrant workers, legal and illegal, every year remit a huge amount of money that helps keep the national economy afloat amid various economic challenges.
Actionaid, a Johannesburg-headquartered non-government organisation, and Nagorik Songhoti jointly organised the meeting on 'Rights of Migrant Labourers' at the National Press Club.
According to the Bangladesh Bank statistics, more than $6.0 billion came from overseas workers in 2007. The government expects the amount will touch $9.0 billion mark by the end of this year. The remittance stands as the second largest source of foreign exchange after the RMG sector, which last year brought in $8.0 billion.
Referring to recent chaos in Kuwait, which caused deportation of hundreds of Bangladeshi workers, ex-ambassador Maj Gen (Retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury said nothing could be gained through legal fight with the Kuwaiti government.
He made the statement because the gulf nation's law has no provision that ensures rights of the foreign workers. He said the expatriate welfare ministry under its current form is of no use, as it has failed to safeguard the expatriate workers' rights.
He said it has thoroughly failed to impart necessary training, build accommodation or healthcare facilities for the workers. "Some Tk 200 million budget meant annually for the ministry is mostly used for the entertainment of the ministry people," he said.
He added that it has become imperative to form a regulatory commission with people from various professional bodies, recruiting agencies, and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury said there should be adequate training facilities for the workers under the state sponsorship, as Bangladeshi workers lag behind compared with the workers of other countries under SAARC.
He said the government should tighten monitoring the activities of the recruiting agencies, and rogue agencies should be brought to book.
Didarul Alam, one of the deported workers from Kuwait, described his sufferings under his Kuwaiti employer and the atrocities of the police of the Gulf nation.
He said he was detained for demanding due payment. "We didn't get water to drink in the custody. The officials tortured me mercilessly," he said. "This is really inhuman," he said. "We didn't do anything wrong."
Golam Mostofa, president of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), said his office would take stern action against the agencies that cheat people.
Mostofa alleged that Bangladesh's diplomatic missions abroad do not adequately standby the migrant workers when troubles arise.
He appealed to the government to give financial assistance to the workers who have been deported from Kuwait.