Govt plans housing project in each dist for expat workers

The government is considering setting up of housing projects in every district for Bangladeshi expatriate workers.
There is also a plan to introduce an insurance company so that the migrant workers get financial support from it after returning home.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE) minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain announced this Wednesday while addressing a press conference on the occasion of  'World Migration Day-2014' which will kick-off today (Thursday).
The minister also said they have sent a proposal to the education ministry to seek admission quota for expatriates' children in different educational institutes so that they can pursue proper education.
The press meet was held at the ministry office in the city's Probashi Kallyan Bhaban. The theme of the migration day 2014 is 'Nirapod Ovrbason ,Dinbodoler Lakkho Arjan'.
The day will be observed in every district and upazila and all Bangladesh missions abroad.
For ensuring security of the migrants government has enacted a law. It has also launched campaign to make the overseas job seekers aware of safe migration, the EWOE minister said.
He said his ministry was established mainly for wellbeing of the overseas workers and it is working for it. They have set up 12 labour wings in addition to previous 16 abroad for increasing service and exploring job opportunities.
The country is expected to send 0.6 to 0.7 million workers a year in the near future following lessening of the impact of global recession slightly.
For this the government has taken a project for setting up more training institutes to build up skilled manpower as per demand, he added.        
"Around 9.0 million Bangladeshis are working in different sectors in 160 countries," the minister said adding that from 2009 to 2013 about 2.45 million workers got overseas jobs.
The minister, however, reiterated that the government will resume manpower export under private sector in Malaysia once a congenial atmosphere is created.
Migrants sent home US$ 61.90 billion between fiscal year 2008-2009 and 2012- 2013 and the necessity of remittance is increasing day by day in the country's economy, he mentioned.        
In observance of the day the ministry has taken a 3-day-long programme at the city's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
The day will begin through a procession from the south plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 8.0 am.
The ministry will also give stipends of Tk 31,51,000 to the meritorious children of migrant workers from Primary School Certificate (PSC) to Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) level on the occasion.  
EWOE secretary Khandakar Iftekhar Haidar, director general of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) Begum Shamsun Nahar, among others, were present at the press conference.
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