Manpower export needs streamlining
Enamul Haque | Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Emergency provides the opportunity for harsh and swift application of the laws against unethical practices. Besides, it gives the government sweeping powers to address pressing economic issues safeguarding the genuine interests of the workers of modest means who, getting cheated, have to suffer imprisonment in foreign jails. They turn paupers.
According to newspaper reports, hardly any action is taken against the recruitment agencies, who take large sums of money from the gullible job-seekers but do not send them abroad with jobs as promised. At least one in every five, seeking employment abroad, becomes the victim of fraud. This has been happening year after year when Bangladesh's competitors in manpower exports, neighbouring India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been streamlining their manpower trade. The national economies of these countries as well as the individuals there are benefitting due to the corrective steps taken by their respective governments. These countries have developed a system to stop fraudulent practices in manpower export.
The missions of these countries abroad also remain reasonably active in protecting the rights and interests of their workers in foreign countries. The foreign employers feel obliged to faithfully pay contracted amounts and other benefits to their workers. Workers from these countries are not allowed to take up jobs at wages below the market price in the employing countries.
The governments in these countries allocate increasing resources to train the workers for overseas markets. These countries have definite policies to send more skilled than unskilled workers for greater earnings.
Banks in India and Pakistan provide loans on easy terms to workers to pay off the fees to recruitment agencies and to cover other costs. No wonder, these countries earn more by sending workers abroad.
Therefore, it is imperative for Bangladesh to adopt clear goals and the needed policy to realise its potential from manpower export. The first task, in order, would be to throw the unscrupulous manpower firms out of business. The authorised manpower exporting firms must be made accountable. They should take only the government approved fees from different categories of workers. They must function honestly.
The Bangladeshi missions abroad need to rectify their functioning to attend to expatriate workers. The recent happenings involving the Bangladeshi overseas workers in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and a number of countries in the Middle East do provide a strong reason for taking effective corrective steps at the earliest in this connection. Corruption and negligence in Bangladesh missions abroad is responsible for the woes of the workers, to a great extent. The government needs to take harsh action against such acts of omission and commission.
According to newspaper reports, hardly any action is taken against the recruitment agencies, who take large sums of money from the gullible job-seekers but do not send them abroad with jobs as promised. At least one in every five, seeking employment abroad, becomes the victim of fraud. This has been happening year after year when Bangladesh's competitors in manpower exports, neighbouring India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been streamlining their manpower trade. The national economies of these countries as well as the individuals there are benefitting due to the corrective steps taken by their respective governments. These countries have developed a system to stop fraudulent practices in manpower export.
The missions of these countries abroad also remain reasonably active in protecting the rights and interests of their workers in foreign countries. The foreign employers feel obliged to faithfully pay contracted amounts and other benefits to their workers. Workers from these countries are not allowed to take up jobs at wages below the market price in the employing countries.
The governments in these countries allocate increasing resources to train the workers for overseas markets. These countries have definite policies to send more skilled than unskilled workers for greater earnings.
Banks in India and Pakistan provide loans on easy terms to workers to pay off the fees to recruitment agencies and to cover other costs. No wonder, these countries earn more by sending workers abroad.
Therefore, it is imperative for Bangladesh to adopt clear goals and the needed policy to realise its potential from manpower export. The first task, in order, would be to throw the unscrupulous manpower firms out of business. The authorised manpower exporting firms must be made accountable. They should take only the government approved fees from different categories of workers. They must function honestly.
The Bangladeshi missions abroad need to rectify their functioning to attend to expatriate workers. The recent happenings involving the Bangladeshi overseas workers in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and a number of countries in the Middle East do provide a strong reason for taking effective corrective steps at the earliest in this connection. Corruption and negligence in Bangladesh missions abroad is responsible for the woes of the workers, to a great extent. The government needs to take harsh action against such acts of omission and commission.