More training centres for overseas job-seekers
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
FURTHER increase in remittance flows can be achieved by an assortment of policies in different sectors and not alone by setting up remittance houses abroad. While it has been a useful step, other policies must be pursued for augmenting remittance flows. For example, the Bangladesh embassies will have to be much more proactive in searching out markets for manpower export in the old and new destinations. The positions of labour attaches and the like in the missions must be filled and strengthened for the purpose. Truly capable persons should be assigned with these positions. The missions should devote greater time and energy to look after the interests of overseas Bangladeshi workers so that the latter can get their contracted or pledged remunerations and other monetary benefits from the foreign employers. All of these steps, pursued well, can notably increase the volume of remittances.
The present mode of sending out a large number of workers in the unskilled and semi-skilled category does not create optimum remittance flows. The export of skilled manpower including workers and professionals can lead to higher earnings and hence higher remittance flows because their wages would be substantially greater than those of the unskilled workers. But people in large numbers will require training for the purpose and this need can be met if the government operates a sufficient number of skill training centres across the country. The training can be imparted free of costs and those who receive such training will be able to pay gradually for their training costs, once they get jobs abroad and start earning. Similarly, the state-owned commercial banks should be able to provide loans to overseas job-seekers to pay the fees of manpower agents. The loans should carry nominal rates of interests and can be serviced by workers from their earnings as they get jobs abroad.
The operation of manpower agencies must be monitored and fraudulent ones, closed down. Law enforcement actions should persuade all such agencies to take the agreed amounts of fees and other service charges from overseas job seekers and not undeserved amounts paid secretly. All of these steps, efficiently taken, will also significantly increase the flow of remittances.
In the short term, establishment of more remittance houses in the employing countries, the functioning of these with very simplified procedures by motivated persons and increase in the incentives of Bangladeshis working abroad to remit bigger amounts by adding to the interest rates on foreign currency savings bonds, etc., could also produce impressive results in boosting the flow of remittances.
Farhana Aziz
Baridhara, Dhaka.
The present mode of sending out a large number of workers in the unskilled and semi-skilled category does not create optimum remittance flows. The export of skilled manpower including workers and professionals can lead to higher earnings and hence higher remittance flows because their wages would be substantially greater than those of the unskilled workers. But people in large numbers will require training for the purpose and this need can be met if the government operates a sufficient number of skill training centres across the country. The training can be imparted free of costs and those who receive such training will be able to pay gradually for their training costs, once they get jobs abroad and start earning. Similarly, the state-owned commercial banks should be able to provide loans to overseas job-seekers to pay the fees of manpower agents. The loans should carry nominal rates of interests and can be serviced by workers from their earnings as they get jobs abroad.
The operation of manpower agencies must be monitored and fraudulent ones, closed down. Law enforcement actions should persuade all such agencies to take the agreed amounts of fees and other service charges from overseas job seekers and not undeserved amounts paid secretly. All of these steps, efficiently taken, will also significantly increase the flow of remittances.
In the short term, establishment of more remittance houses in the employing countries, the functioning of these with very simplified procedures by motivated persons and increase in the incentives of Bangladeshis working abroad to remit bigger amounts by adding to the interest rates on foreign currency savings bonds, etc., could also produce impressive results in boosting the flow of remittances.
Farhana Aziz
Baridhara, Dhaka.