The many plights of our expatriate workers have been discussed repeatedly over the years, and while we are yet to find a holistic solution, it is encouraging to see the government's efforts to ease the process.
Particularly, the Bangabandhu Wage Earners Centre in Khilkhet, launched last year, is a promising initiative that offers accommodation and transport -- among a host of other services -- to expat workers near the airport.
The centre can house 40 male and 10 female expat workers for Tk200 per night, and provides free transport to and from the airport as per their schedules. Workers can also receive counseling from the establishment, along with affordable food and medical support.
This is undoubtedly a laudable initiative on the government's part, and can provide some relief to our migrant workers who have contributed greatly to our economic progress.
It is well known that expatriate workers are subjected to a number of hassles, and especially at the time of departure or arrival, with the expensive and often unsafe alternatives available, this centre can prove to be of great convenience to the workers.
With the centre being relatively new, however, many workers are still unaware of the services. To that end, the authorities must continue working on campaigns to increase awareness, so as to ensure that more of our expats are granted these services.
The government must also be firm on its plans to alleviate some of the more persistent troubles that the workers face, by enforcing better policies for their safety, and ensuring that our migrant workers are treated with the kind of respect they deserve -- at home as well as overseas.