Overseas BD workers need proper service from missions

FE Report | Published: September 10, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Bangladesh is unable to provide necessary services to the migrant workers following shortage of skilled labour attachés in Bangladesh missions abroad, said speakers at a programme Tuesday.
They also emphasised the need for two years' field level experience as requirement for the post of labour attaché.
The speakers made their observations at a study report launching programme on "Institutional Strengthening of the Office of Labour Attaché" at the Senate Bhaban of University of Dhaka.
The comparative study on labour counsellors' service among Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka was conducted by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) with the support of Migrating out of Poverty Research Programme Consortium (RPC), university of Sussex, UK.
The study said that there is a marked difference in the recruitment procedures of labour attaché of Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.
In India it is treated as a matter of routine posting of officials, whereas in Bangladesh the post is openly advertised among cadre and non-cadre officials of various ministries.
In sharp contrast, Sri Lanka pursues a policy that allows only those who work in the ministry of labour or in the concerned line agency- the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to serve in the foreign missions.
It also said there is advantage of Sri Lanka as the officers having experiences in the related field domestically are better informed of the issues related to migrant workers.
The research also found out that there is great variation in the cost of migration among the three countries with Sri Lanka being the lowest. Female workers who went to serve as domestic help did not have to incur any cost at all. And they are 19 per cent of the total average.
The study also recommends enhanced coordination between the labour wing and other wings of the missions.
While speaking as chief guest, Hazrat Ali, additional secretary of ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE), said the labour attaché should change their mindset and work for the migrants from field level.
They should not consider themselves as typical officers, he added.
Ex director (immigration) of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and Joint Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Salim Reza emphasised on the need for structural and institutional training for labour attachés before their appointment.
He, however, said they should have to remember that they are appointed for the wellbeing of workers abroad.
C R Abrar, executive director of RMMRU presented the findings of the study while Kazi Abul Kalam, Deputy Secretary of EWOE, Saiful Haque, Chairman of WARBE Development Foundation, Tasneem Siddiqui, founder-chair of RMMRU, and some newly appointed labour attachés, among others, were present at the programme.