Bangladesh has long been dependent on the contributions of its migrant workers, who play a vital role in bolstering the economy. With their foreign earnings, this is especially salient at a time when our foreign reserves are not as stable as they once were, and we require their support more than ever before.
Thus, it is extremely disappointing how we fail to protect these essential workers for our economy time and time again. The latest involves these workers falling prey to smart card fraudsters, where workers are sent abroad using fake IDs, who are then unable to find work.
It is clear to see that the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET) is failing to do its job when it comes to providing the right kind of support to our expats; when in 2022, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment investigated the Smart Card fraud in the BMET, it was found that nine officers and employees of BMET and six recruiting agencies were involved in the fraud.
This is shameful, and to say we must do better is an understatement.
It is imperative for Bangladesh to take concrete steps to protect its migrant workers and ensure that their hard-earned remittances are not lost to fraud. The unsafe working conditions that they are often subjected to is bad enough, and is an area where we must also do better and ensure they have more humane working conditions.
Implementing stricter licensing requirements for recruitment agencies, providing better pre-departure training and support, and ultimately, caring about the well-being of these individuals are just the minimum requirements. By taking decisive action to address fraud and exploitation, Bangladesh can ensure that its migrant workers can continue to contribute to the country's development.