Workers' outflow rises 30pc in unrest-hit July

The outflow of workers increased last month (July) compared to the previous month, despite the country witnessing severe unrest mainly in the second half of the month amid students' anti-discrimination movement.
Data released by the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) showed 71,441 Bangladeshi workers found jobs abroad in July, rising 29.78 per cent from 55,045 workers in June.
Due to the student movement, the then government closed all the government and private offices for about a week. Still, the number of workers who went abroad increased compared to the previous month.
Several flights to Saudi Arabia were also canceled at that time. However, Saudia Airlines, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, provided special flights for the workers.
BMET officials said the pending clearances were given when the offices opened. Besides, traveling to the airport remained outside the purview of curfew. As a result of these steps, there was not much impact on the overseas employment sector, they said.
However, the sector was hit hard by the closure of the Malaysian market as the overall outflow of workers fell by more than 58 per cent in June compared to May.
The Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) data shows 131,696 Bangladeshi workers went abroad in May, including 47,809 to Malaysia.
Shah Abdul Tarique, additional director general (employment) at BMET, said there were some disruptions but they continued to provide clearance certificates to the workers when the office was open.
He also said that the outflow of workers from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia has increased due to the closure of the Malaysian market. "But there is a high possibility that the annual target of overseas employment will not be achieved this year."
The Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry has set a target to send 1.2 million workers in 2024.
Some 580,419 workers went abroad in the first seven months of this year. Of the total, more than 52 per cent went to Saudi Arabia, followed by 16 per cent to Malaysia, more than 7.0 per cent to Qatar, and less than 7.0 per cent to the United Arab Emirates.
Malaysia suspended recruiting foreign workers, including Bangladeshis, on May 31. Malaysia was the second largest labour market for Bangladesh after Saudi Arabia. The labour receiving country hired 20,000-30,000 workers every month since its opening for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's remittance income has also started getting back its normal pace. Wage earners, once announced not to send home remittance, are now sending their hard-earned money home through official channels following the change of government.
Expatriates sent US$1.144 billion in remittances to Bangladesh through legal channels in the first 17 days of August, according to data from Bangladesh Bank.
More than 14 million Bangladeshis have gone abroad with jobs since 1976. Bangladesh mainly sends workers to 18 countries including gulf nations.
Expatriates send home an average US$ 21-22 billion in remittance through banking channels each year.

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