Govt plans to send 8.10 lakh workers abroad in 2022-23

The government has worked out a plan to send 8.10 lakh Bangladeshi workers abroad and provide skills development training to 5.20 lakh in the current fiscal year (2022-23).

According to an official document, it is necessary to provide proper training to workers for their skills development and ensure better jobs for them abroad.

To this end, all the training programmes of technical training institutes and institutes of marine technology are conducted under the National, Technical and Vocational Qualification Framework (NTVQF) from the last fiscal year (2021-22).

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) activities has been taken up for effective use of the learning by migrant workers abroad to increase their earnings in the overseas labour market.

Apart from this, foreign language teaching courses are going on in the 43 Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs).

In addition, for bringing discipline in the immigration system, three new online systems titled, 'Employee Connectivity Reporting System', 'Online Grievance Management System', and 'Recruiting Agencies Information Management system (RAIMS)' have been introduced, said the document.

The government has taken up a range of initiatives for the welfare of both expatriate workers and workers returning from abroad.

The discipline in the immigration system has been ensured through monitoring the activities of the recruiting agencies on regular basis.

The document mentioned that this sector has been completely digitalised through different programmes like-creating professional database for employee recruitment; scrutinising visa forms through mobile apps; separate portal for receiving grievance petitions and automation of the activities of the 'Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training' (BMET).

A number of activities are going on for the purpose of re-integration of migrant workers who have returned home and providing soft investment loans for their self- employment; providing scholarships to the meritorious children of the expatriates and providing medical assistance to the disabled expatriate workers on their return.

A plan of action for establishing technical training institutes at every upazila in phases has been taken up for inspiring the marginalised communities across the country.

The document said that in 2020-2021 FY the growth of remittance stood at 36.10 percent. However, since the very beginning of fiscal 2021-2022, the income from remittances slightly decreased.

With a view to encouraging remittance through legal channel, the government has raised the rate of incentives 0.5 percentage point to 2.5 percent from January, 2022.

The government has withdrawn the mandatory provisions for submission of earning documents of the remitters in the case of availing cash incentives against remittances exceeding the amount of US$ 5,000.

It is expected that, a satisfactory growth of remittance will be back on track soon, said the document. In 2019, $18.32 billion was remitted to Bangladesh, the third-highest recipient of remittance in South Asia.