When the UK opened its doors in the 1960s, Bangladeshi labourers initially started migrating in large numbers. However, it is believed that short-term migration for jobs began in the 1970s and really took off by the end of the 1980s. With a dramatic increase in the flow in 2005, momentum accelerated once more during the 2000s, but this time it lasted only for a short while.
Over the past few years, the annual average for workers leaving the country has been approximately 500,000. In the past, Bangladeshi women migrants made up a tiny and small percentage of the total, but the yearly trend increased steadily from 2000 to 2012. From little over 37,000 in 2012, the number of female migrant workers more than doubled to 76,000 in 2014.
Jordan and Lebanon were the main destinations for female employees between the years 2000 and 2015, with more than 50% of them working at home and just approximately 10% in garment factories or other similar fields.
According to skills distribution, Bangladeshi workers made up the majority of 45% in 2014, returning to the average between 1990 and 2005 after it spiked to 73% in 2010 and dropped to 62% in 2012. The proportion of skilled and semi-skilled workers fell.
Bangladesh is seeking to establish a minimum salary for migrant workers in their destination nations, according to Imran Ahmad, the minister of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, on Tuesday.
"We are pursuing this goal.” Imran addressed an event hosted by the International Organization for Migration honoring the completion of Prottasha, a project for migrant workers, while serving as the chief guest. He said, "we will not accept workers' demands from overseas countries and send them abroad without setting a minimum wage."
He brought up the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where employees from Bangladesh received 800 Riyals while those from other nations received 1,200 Riyals. Imran mentioned that he had heard that, in addition to the Tk80,000 set by the government, agencies were charging migrant workers up to Tk200,000 to send them to Malaysia.
The minister issued a warning that individuals attempting to solicit money from prospective migrant workers without guaranteeing them employment would face punishment.
Employment abroad plays a significant role in reducing the strain on the domestic labour market. With 1.8 million individuals annually joining the labor market in the 2000s, Bangladesh's current rate of economic growth has not been able to provide.
It's crucial to regularly assess the economic prospects and labour demand of destination nations in order to keep the flow of overseas employment at desirable levels. On the basis of such analyses, pro-active measures are required to address the changing labour market -- both in terms of destination nations and skill makeup. In order to take advantage of prospects, bilateral contracts and discussions can definitely be considered helpful.
In Bangladeshi workers' employment abroad, the high cost of migration is a significant problem and urgent efforts are required to reduce the costs. Any efforts to lower the cost of migration would need to concentrate mostly on this element as the so-called facilitators account for a very large amount of the cost.
Bishal Basu works in the banking sector.