Law Event
Urge for a migration policy
Md. Golam Sarwar
Presenters, discussants, designated guests and participants at a workshop recommended for making a comprehensive national migration policy to protect the rights of the migrants. National Human Rights Commission organized a consultative workshop on the role of National human Rights Commission in protecting the rights of migrant workers on 11th February 2011.
Dr. Dipu Moni, Honble Minister for Foreign Affairs, was the chief guest at the workshop, while Stefan Priesner , Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh was the guest of honour. Two distinguished speakers: Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah, Member, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and Ms. Farkhanda Aurangzeb, Ministry of Human Rights in Pakistan made presentations from their country perspective. The workshop was presided over by Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman, NHRC.
In the the inaugural session there was an overview of the programme made by Kazi Reazul Hoque, Member,National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh. He informed that the consultation process with different stakeholders is a part of the strategic planning initiated by the NHRC for next five years. “We are getting huge remittance through migrant workers so their contribution should be utilized for the socio-economic development of the country. At present one of the major concerns that we are loosing our market in different countries particularly in the Middle East” Mr. Haque reiterated. He urges for a comprehensive national policy to protect the rights of the migrant workers and in order to further this goal he suggested to establish a strong coordinating body at the national level.
In his statement Sha'ani Abdullah said that there should be a bilateral educational programme which will make the workers more skilled and knowledgeable about their rights and as such parties involved in sending and receiving the workers would not be able to take advantage and to deceive them. He said that Malaysian government would work together with Bangladesh to protect the migrant workers.
Fakhanad Aurangzeb in his statement said that for the revival of human dignity, we need to struggle together for that irrespective of whatever capacity we have.
Stefan Priesner remarked that NHRC has a role to educate human rights regarding the migration management but NHRC alone cannot implement it, government should be cordial and cooperative with the issues. UNDP is fully committed to fulfill the mandate, he added.
The chief guest of the workshop Dr. Dipu Moni in her speech said that the issue of migrant worker is very important, but one very unfortunate thing is that our migrant workers are unskilled, unqualified and exploitation is over there. Due to huge cost they often cannot realize their rights rather than their investment. The government has already taken few steps regarding the issues like issuing machine readable passport, making anti-trafficking law. In all sectors one country cannot go for working within the boundary, regional and international cooperation is needed to ensure development. On part of this government is likely to discuss more on migration issues in Colombo process which will be held on April this year, he added. The Minister also added that the labour market is not unlimited, the receiving countries have their own concerns, yet the government of Bangladesh is committed to ensure and hold the labour market of Bangladesh
NHRC Chairmen Dr. Mizanur Rahman urged the labour attaché of the High commissions to show more humanistic approach towards the migrant workers. Dr. Rahman informed that NHRC of Bangladesh is in touch with the Qatar NHRC and this will create a standard to protect the rights of the migrant workers. Training on rights of migration would to be launched among the employees who are involved in the migration process, he argued.
In this workshop, the Foreign Minister informed that, government is going to launch a migrant welfare bank and a assured all sorts of co-operation to NHRC in their endeavor to protect migrants worker's rights as well as to ensure justice.
After inaugural session there was a roundtable discussion where representatives from NGO's participated. Amongst other issues, importance of rati fication of migration convention and adoption of a national migration policy was stressed.
As the mission of NHRC is to ensure the rule of law, social justice, freedom and human dignity through promoting and protecting human rights, a comprehensive national migration policy is essential to protect the rights of the migrants, the participants opined.
The writer is working with Law Desk, The Daily Star.
