‘Labour fare’ for migrant workers

Recruiting agencies yesterday demanded that the government introduce "labour fare" for migrant workers.

They made the demand in the wake of the recent hike in airfare on different international routes.

The press conference was organised by "Sammilita Samannay Parishad, Baira", a platform of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies members at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

They mentioned that airfare of major destinations for migrant workers, especially the Middle East, has reached a range between Tk 75,000 to Tk 90,000 recently, from earlier prices of Tk 40,000 to Tk 50,000. Fakhrul Islam, former finance secretary of Baira, said the labour fare could be two-third of the regular fare, in acknowledgement of the contribution of migrant workers to the country's economy.

Former Baira president Abul Basher and its former secretary-general Ali Haider Chowdhury attended the press conference.