‘Govt to incentivise migrant workers sending remittances’

The government has taken a decision to provide incentive to Bangladeshi migrant workers in sending remittances, says the director general of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET).
Addressing a consultation programme, BMET DG Salim Reza stated that the ministry of finance has decided in principle to provide incentive to the workers in sending remittance.
He also said the move will help protect the interests of the migrant workers as well as increase the flow of inward remittances.
The consultation on "Migrants' Budget" was held in the capital on Monday with Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah as the chief guest.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Salim Reza told the FE correspondent that he had yet to be informed about the amount of the incentive. But within a few days the BMET will get an update, he said.
Currently a large amount of remittances are sent through hundi, unauthorised channel to transfer money.
"If the workers enjoy incentive then they will be encouraged to send money via official channel," said BMET DG.
Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) organised the event on for the third time with the participation of around 500 workers at the BIAM Auditorium.
OKUP Chairman Shakirul Islam presented the keynote paper. He said the government has invested little in the protection and welfare of migrant workers.
The budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment was the third lowest of all governmental ministries in fiscal year 2018-19, he acknowledged.
He recommended for spending at least 2.0 per cent of annual inward remittances for the protection and welfare of workers returned from abroad and families of them.
Returned workers must be brought under the national social safety net programmes in fiscal year 2019-2020 as well as other social security coverage and the universal pension scheme, he added.
Speaking at the programme, Chairman at WARBE Development Foundation Syed Saiful Haque requested the government to allocate a 'low cost' fund of Tk 10 billion (Tk 1,000 crore) for migrant workers in the national budget. "If the returned workers get the fund they can start a business or any other venture," he said.
Many workers came back home being distressed because of losing jobs or cheated by the unscrupulous manpower recruiters. So they should be given financial assistance with a view to helping them return to normal lives, he added.
Executive Director of the Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra (BNSK) Sumaiya Islam suggested providing budgetary allocation for reintegration and the improving the livelihoods of migrant workers.
Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry Mrinal Kanti Das assured that he will give a suggestion to the committee for improving quality of services to the migrant workers.
Chief of Mission of International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Giorgi Gigauri recommended to extending cooperation to the returned workers for proper utilisation of their income and experiences.
Fazle Rabbi Miah said they will try to increase the allocation for this sector.
But the proposals should be placed at the beginning of the year because it is difficult to incorporate any proposal into the budget if it comes at the last moment, he viewed.
Executive Director of OKUP Omar Faruque moderated the programme where eminent rights activists were also present.

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