The government has prepared a draft Overseas Employment Policy to bring transparency and accountability in the sector given the importance of labour migration to the economy and shifts in demand globally.
Officials said the draft policy considers the opinions of all stakeholders and has been prepared with the technical support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Though published, further opinions on the draft Overseas Employment Policy-2013 are still being taken on the website of the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry.
“If the policy is formulated it’s all good,” a senior official of the expat ministry said in return for anonymity, as the draft is yet to be approved by the cabinet.
He said the policy lays down the ways in which migration costs could be reduced while ensuring the rights of female migrants. Under the proposed policy, migrants in the destination countries and their families at home will be protected.
“The overseas employment policy-2006 needs to be updated as many things including demand in the destination countries have undergone changes,” the official said.
The official believes a government policy update is overdue as remittance contributes 11% to the GDP of Bangladesh and the demand for labour in many countries is changing, with new opportunities emerging.
About 8 million Bangladeshis are working in different countries and sending over $10bn as remittance annually. Given this, the draft policy stresses the need for strong leadership at the highest level.
Consequently, a national steering committee will be formed, headed by the prime minister and co-chaired by the expat minister. Ministers and secretaries from different government departments will be included in the committee, which will sit at least once a year. Secretarial assistance will be provided by the expatriates’ welfare ministry.
The committee will provide a guideline so that all stakeholders including ministries, recruiting agencies and organisations of civil societies can have a unified approach to ensuring an effective and transparent labour migration. It will advise and instruct stakeholders on policy making and reformation, and it will work to integrate and rehabilitate returning migrant workers.
A national migration forum will also be formed, involving 60 representatives of ministries, labour migration bodies, the federation of employers, trade unions, research organisations and recruiting agents, each appointed on a three-year basis.
It will identify priority activities for the implementation of the policy and review the plans related to it.
The policy proposes the creation of a market research unit to conduct a study on the demand and supply of workers. It will also study the existing labour markets and new destination countries.
For sending skilled manpower abroad training will be given in the trades which are of high demand in the world market, the policy says.
The policy also proposed for a comprehensive data bank of workers so that aspirant workers can be sent abroad in a systematic manner and with low migration cost.