New year holds promises for overseas job markets
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Shahiduzzaman Khan
The country's manpower export has registered a 46 per cent fall in 2009 compared to that of the previous year, showing the impact of global recession that has led to a cut-down on fresh recruitment in major job markets. But such decline is not that much phenomenal as compared to the gravity of the global meltdown that had affected many countries of the world, say analysts.
According to reports in the media this week, many analysts vented their optimism about prospect of sending more workers in 2010, keeping in mind the present global financial situation. They said 0.4 to 0.5 million overseas employment per year is normal, but the years, 2007 and 2008, witnessed aggressive growth that was 'abnormal'. In 2008, the country's overseas employment was 8,75,055, which was 8,32,609 in 2007, official record shows.
The president of the country's 800-member recruiting agents association blamed imposed ban on Bangladeshi workers import in Malaysia and restriction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as the main reason for such a fall in the year's manpower export from 2008. But the country's overseas employment minister is upbeat about intensified export following intensive diplomatic negotiations with old and potential overseas job markets.
The government has, meantime, taken a move to introduce smart card containing computer chip with upgraded database network of all expatriate Bangladeshi workers. This will be launched for reducing immigration cost relating to appointment for overseas job, checking cheating of workers and maintaining accurate information about the overseas workers. It is also considering whether overseas job seekers going abroad with employment visa can be exempted from travel tax.
It is unfortunate that the ministry for expatriates welfare and the diplomats posted in important countries have not succeeded in ensuring the rights of the migrant workers and facilitating manpower export. They have also not been able to take pragmatic steps to augment it, whereas Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India have become successful in sending a large number of both skilled and unskilled workers abroad after providing them with proper training. The number of expatriate workers of any of those countries is higher than ours.
As such, the government needs to chalk out a plan with a vision to send some 30 million people abroad by 2020 to make Bangladesh a middle-income country. People should raise their voices for increasing the growth of manpower export for the sake of the country. The scope for exporting manpower to many countries is being created now. For consecutive two years, the sector had faced tremendous pressure of job cuts from almost every major employment market as an impact of global financial recession. However, recent developments in the sector are giving some positive signals.
As has been stated earlier, the country's overseas missions are not performing up to the mark. Reports of massive irregularities and mismanagements in these missions are coming to limelight very often. Very recently, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni expressed her frustration at the state of affairs in Bangladesh embassies where lack of cooperation between the ambassador and different wings has jeopardised the labour market for expatriates. The foreign minister was hundred per cent correct about what she had said. The problem may be deeper than what she anticipated. These missions need to be overhauled, indeed.
Bangladesh missions abroad need to be much more proactive in searching for manpower markets in the old and new destinations. The economic ministers and the labour attaches posted at different missions must be dedicated personnel. Truly capable persons should be assigned 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 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-development centres across the country. The training can be imparted free of cost initially with provision to pay back gradually once they get jobs abroad and start earning. Learning English is also vital for the expatriate workers who fail to perform better due to absence of speaking capability.
The government needs to be serious about expansion of the manpower export market. This is the single most source that earns the highest amount of foreign exchange. 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.
In order to make manpower export relatively fault-free, formation of a regulatory standing commission is seen essential. If this is done, the manpower sector -- which is the highest foreign exchange earner -- could boost the country's economy to a large extent. Indeed, such sector deserves to be protected from all harm so that it can flourish further. Utmost urgency must be shown to mitigate the problems in the sector.
szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com
The country's manpower export has registered a 46 per cent fall in 2009 compared to that of the previous year, showing the impact of global recession that has led to a cut-down on fresh recruitment in major job markets. But such decline is not that much phenomenal as compared to the gravity of the global meltdown that had affected many countries of the world, say analysts.
According to reports in the media this week, many analysts vented their optimism about prospect of sending more workers in 2010, keeping in mind the present global financial situation. They said 0.4 to 0.5 million overseas employment per year is normal, but the years, 2007 and 2008, witnessed aggressive growth that was 'abnormal'. In 2008, the country's overseas employment was 8,75,055, which was 8,32,609 in 2007, official record shows.
The president of the country's 800-member recruiting agents association blamed imposed ban on Bangladeshi workers import in Malaysia and restriction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as the main reason for such a fall in the year's manpower export from 2008. But the country's overseas employment minister is upbeat about intensified export following intensive diplomatic negotiations with old and potential overseas job markets.
The government has, meantime, taken a move to introduce smart card containing computer chip with upgraded database network of all expatriate Bangladeshi workers. This will be launched for reducing immigration cost relating to appointment for overseas job, checking cheating of workers and maintaining accurate information about the overseas workers. It is also considering whether overseas job seekers going abroad with employment visa can be exempted from travel tax.
It is unfortunate that the ministry for expatriates welfare and the diplomats posted in important countries have not succeeded in ensuring the rights of the migrant workers and facilitating manpower export. They have also not been able to take pragmatic steps to augment it, whereas Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India have become successful in sending a large number of both skilled and unskilled workers abroad after providing them with proper training. The number of expatriate workers of any of those countries is higher than ours.
As such, the government needs to chalk out a plan with a vision to send some 30 million people abroad by 2020 to make Bangladesh a middle-income country. People should raise their voices for increasing the growth of manpower export for the sake of the country. The scope for exporting manpower to many countries is being created now. For consecutive two years, the sector had faced tremendous pressure of job cuts from almost every major employment market as an impact of global financial recession. However, recent developments in the sector are giving some positive signals.
As has been stated earlier, the country's overseas missions are not performing up to the mark. Reports of massive irregularities and mismanagements in these missions are coming to limelight very often. Very recently, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni expressed her frustration at the state of affairs in Bangladesh embassies where lack of cooperation between the ambassador and different wings has jeopardised the labour market for expatriates. The foreign minister was hundred per cent correct about what she had said. The problem may be deeper than what she anticipated. These missions need to be overhauled, indeed.
Bangladesh missions abroad need to be much more proactive in searching for manpower markets in the old and new destinations. The economic ministers and the labour attaches posted at different missions must be dedicated personnel. Truly capable persons should be assigned 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 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-development centres across the country. The training can be imparted free of cost initially with provision to pay back gradually once they get jobs abroad and start earning. Learning English is also vital for the expatriate workers who fail to perform better due to absence of speaking capability.
The government needs to be serious about expansion of the manpower export market. This is the single most source that earns the highest amount of foreign exchange. 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.
In order to make manpower export relatively fault-free, formation of a regulatory standing commission is seen essential. If this is done, the manpower sector -- which is the highest foreign exchange earner -- could boost the country's economy to a large extent. Indeed, such sector deserves to be protected from all harm so that it can flourish further. Utmost urgency must be shown to mitigate the problems in the sector.
szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com