‘Set up quality training facilities, explore new markets for migrants’

Experts in an online consultation yesterday said the expatriates' welfare ministry needs to spend its fiscal budget aptly to enhance overall labour migration situation, especially on quality training facilities and exploring new markets.

They said the allocated budget for the ministry for 2021-2022 fiscal year is not sufficient and urged the government to increase such allocation in the next national budget.

Titled "Online Post-Budget National Consultation for the FY 2021-2022 on Migrants' Welfare", the event was organised by Bangladesh Parliamentarians' Caucus on Migration and Development, Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM) and WARBE Development Foundation, with support from PROKAS, British Council and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Moderated by the caucus Secretary General Mahjabeen Khaled, the consultation was addressed by present and former parliamentarians, government officials, trade union leaders, civil society members and other stakeholders.

Nashid Rizwana Monir, deputy secretary at the expatriates' welfare ministry, said Tk 701.91 crore has been allocated for the ministry in the national budget 2021-2022.

Of those, Tk 319.86 crore is operating budget and Tk 382.05 crore is development budget, she said.

For the ongoing fiscal, several initiatives have been undertaken by the ministry including a project for encouraging private sector to explore new labour market as well as to strengthen labour diplomacy, she added.

Anisul Islam Mahmud, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, said there should be immediate allocation for training the trainers who will be deployed for skills training at different centres.

He also said there should be open discussion on how and what sectors the money from wage earners' welfare fund are being spent, adding, the government spend a significant portion of the fund.

"The fund should be utilised for the workers' welfare," he added.

Nurul Islam, former director of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training, said the main concern should be how each penny from the fiscal budget can be utilised.

What required is a proper plan on how the money allocated for expatriates' welfare can be spent and effort to implement it, he said.

"The key problems in the migration sector should be prioritised and a work plan should be undertaken accordingly," he added.

At present, migrant workers are facing various challenges regarding their vaccination, air tickets and quarantine, said BCSM chair Prof CR Abrar, adding that the government needs to make investment in these areas.

He said the technical training centres in the country lacked quality trainers where the government needs to focus on.

Shameem Haider Patwary, chairperson of the caucus, said they have already proposed in an earlier meeting that a portion of remittance sent by migrant workers should be allocated for their welfare.

He also said a dedicated wing under the health ministry should be formed which will work independently with the expatriates' welfare ministry for migrant workers' vaccination.