Ethical recruitment is the answer

Cooperation among different stakeholders at both sending and receiving ends is required to ensure ethical recruitment practices in labour migration, said speakers at a consultation meeting yesterday.

Mentioning that the government cannot bring down migration costs alone, they said transparency and accountability of recruiting agencies have to be ensured to end exploitation.

The meeting on "Ethical Recruitment and Zero Cost Migration in the Context of the 8th Five-Year Plan" was jointly organised by International Organization for Migration (IOM), Daily Samakal and The Daily Star at Samakal's office in the capital.

Addressing the programme, migration expert and former foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque said there has to be a strong monitoring system, which will be overseen by the government.

A migrant worker after returning home finds himself or herself in a vulnerable situation. The situation of those who return home after job loss abroad is even more vulnerable, he said.

Safe, orderly, regular and well-managed migration benefits migrants and their families as well as sending and receiving countries, said Fathima Nusrath Ghazzali, officer in charge of IOM Bangladesh. "IOM, in this context, strongly supports initiatives to improve migration management in Bangladesh," she said.

Expatriates' Welfare Minister Imran Ahmad said his goal is to implement initiatives that will protect and uphold migrant workers' rights.

He urged migrant workers to learn foreign languages, especially those required in receiving countries, and receive skills training properly.

The minister added that they are expecting that the number of overseas jobs will cross 10 lakh in the ongoing fiscal year.

State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam stressed the need for upscaling skills training for migrant workers to cope with modern technologies.

Besides, he stressed on bringing recruiting agencies under a monitoring mechanism.

Syed Saiful Haque, chairperson of Warbe Development Foundation, said there are sufficient laws and policies related to labour migration in place, while the government also has its commitment for migrant workers' well-being.

Pointing to exorbitant migration costs migrant workers have to pay in Bangladesh, Shakirul Islam, chairperson of Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program, said such situations often lead migrant workers into forced labour.

He stressed on making sub-agents accountable to ensure ethical recruitment practices.

Moderating the programme, Samakal advisory editor Abu Sayeed Khan said Bangladesh's economy is making progress largely due to remittance sent by migrant workers.

However, migrant workers often have to face exploitation and harassment, he said, adding that the government's 8th Five-Year Plan puts importance on sending migrants abroad at zero cost.

Sawsan Al Habahbeh, executive director of Jordan Garments, Accessories and Textiles Exporter's Association, joined the meeting virtually.

Billal Hossain, managing director of Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Ltd, and Mizanur Rahman, former joint secretary general of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies, also addressed the programme.