The Probashi Kallyan Bank (PKB) has enhanced the benefits of its rehabilitation loans for women migrant workers in order to improve their economic condition.
From now on, beneficiaries will receive equity-free loan up to Tk 100,000, according to officials.
The women returning from abroad following workplace harassment or any political or social reasons are entitled to loans.
The facilities like collateral-free slab up to Tk 300,000, and Tk 500,000 with equity collateral remained unchanged.
The fund will be disbursed based on a project plan, prepared by an applicant. One can receive a maximum of Tk 5.0 million for 10 years.
Officials say they have been disbursing the rehabilitation funds to overseas returnees (male and female) since the establishment of the bank to help in workers' economic activity.
Bangladesh sends on average 100,000 women workers abroad each year, discloses the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET).
An estimated 1.0-million women have been abroad with jobs since 1991, according to the BMET data.
On the other hand, nearly 50,000 women have returned home in the past two years following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Regarding the rehab funds, WARBE Development Foundation director Jasiya Khatoon says it is a good initiative.
But she suggests beneficiaries access loans easily and conditions be relaxed more for loans up to Tk 500,000.
The migration rights activist emphasises publicity as people still have no idea about the latest development in the PKB scheme.
When contacted, PKB managing director Md Zahidul Haque says they have enhanced the benefit for women workers as they are a vulnerable group.
They will increase such support further if needed.
Loan disbursement increases gradually, Mr Haque says, adding that they will extend services to this end.
A recruitment process is underway to this end, he adds.
The specialised bank has disbursed Tk 7.38 billion to date from July this fiscal year.
It went into operation in 2011 to provide collateral-free loans to overseas jobseekers for migration and rehabilitation.
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