Bangladesh seeks social, legal protection of migrant workers in emergency situations

Bangladesh wants social and legal protection of migrant workers in destination countries during emergency situations such as the Covid-19 pandemic that has exposed the sheer vulnerability of migrants abroad.

"Migrant workers need to be included in the social and judicial protection system of the countries of destination to address the gap. We need to ensure migrants' rights from the early stage of ethical recruitment to wage, health and job protection," Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said today.

His comment comes ahead of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) to be hosted by the UAE from January 18 to 24. The UN-led forum is going to be held at a time when restrictions on migrants have been increasing due to the pandemic.

About 400,000 Bangladeshi migrants returned home, mostly empty-handed, since the pandemic began in March last year, while scopes for overseas jobs have declined significantly. Many of those who had come home on leave remained stranded.

"During the trying times of Covid-19, we have seen many migrant workers lost their jobs and were in great difficulties as they were not covered by the social safety nets of the countries of destination," Momen said at a virtual pre-GFMD national consultation organized by the Parliamentary Caucus on Migration and Development with support from WARBE Development Foundation and PROKAS project of British Council.

"Moreover, a large number of migrant workers were living or forced to live in crowded environment which were risky for transmission of the virus,"

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said unpaid wages and job losses of migrants during the pandemic suggest that migration policies need to be revised for sustainable migration management.

He said irregular migration is increasing with the normal channels of migration are being disrupted, and opined that unscrupulous agents and the migrants who take irregular path of migration should come under law.

Former foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said with the global economies being disrupted by Covid-19, many of the countries are taking nationalistic policies, which may hamper the SDG targets of including vulnerable populations, including migrants and refugees.

Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) President Benjir Ahmed MP said recruiting agencies play critical role in overseas employment sector but their contribution is not recognised.

"Much of the visa trading happens in destination countries, but the recruiting agents are blamed for this unfairly. Destination countries need to come up to prevent such visa trading that increases migration cost," he said.

Parliamentary Caucus on Migration and Development Chair Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary moderated the discussion also addressed by WARBE Development Foundation Chair Syed Saiful Haque, RMMRU Executive Director Prof CR Abrar and PROKAS Team Leader Gerry Fox.