Records suggest that manpower export from Bangladesh began in 1976. In the first year, only 6,008 people left the country to find jobs abroad. Seven Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait were their main destinations.
The number of expatriate workers did not reach 300,000 in any year prior to 2006. In that year, a total of 381,516 Bangladeshi workers went abroad for jobs. 2007 saw a big jump. In that year, 832,609 Bangladeshi workers went abroad for employment.
In 2008, a total of 875,055 Bangladeshi workers were sent abroad. This remains the highest figure so far. In 2009, there was a sharp fall in the number of expatriate workers. A total of 475,278 workers went abroad for employment that year.
In 2010, 2011, and 2012, the total number of Bangladeshi workers sent abroad stood at 390,702, 568,062 and 607,798 respectively. 2013 again saw a sharp fall in our manpower export. Quoting the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), a report in Dhaka Tribune said a total of 389,229 people had migrated to different countries for jobs till December 12, 2013. Compare that to the 607,000 workers who migrated to different countries for jobs in 2012.
A recent report of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment shows that migrant workers’ remittance in the first year (1976) of manpower export business amounted to only $23 million. It increased to $3.56 billion in 2004, which stood at $12.17 billion and $14.16 billion in 2010 and 2012 respectively.
An UNCTAD report titled “Report on the Least Developed Countries 2012” said Bangladesh had emerged as a top remittance recipient among 48 LDCs, as it alone received around 44% of the $27bn received by LDCs as remittance in 2011.
The Bangladesh Bank data released recently shows that remittance inflow decreased by 2.39% in 2013, compared to a rise of 16.49% in 2012. It stood at $13.83bn last year, against $14.16bn in 2012.
The views expressed by the government and the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) regarding the sharp fall in the export of manpower in 2013 are somewhat contradictory. At a press conference on December 17, the day before the International Migration Day, Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said that the manpower export had fallen because of global recession.
The minister also claimed that the manpower sector was not affected by hartals and blockades, although other sectors were badly affected by these strikes. According to BMET officials, the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers to Kuwait and the UAE virtually stopped, while it substantially reduced for Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia over the years. Moreover, Bangladeshi workers were earning low wages abroad due to global economic recession, hence sending less remittance to the country.
Manpower exporters are blaming the government’s policies for the sharp decline in overseas employment. According to BAIRA, the main platform of private recruiting agencies, manpower exports fell drastically because of the wrong policy pursued by the government. It claims the government wants to export manpower through the government to government (G-to-G) system, which is not feasible. Such a system does not work anywhere in the world. It stresses on the need for joint initiatives of the government and private recruitment agencies to improve the situation.
On the other hand, the minister blames the illegal practices and visa businesses of private recruiting agencies for damaging the overseas employment market for Bangladeshi workers. He claims thousands of Bangladeshis are staying illegally in a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, as they were sent by private recruiting agencies through unofficial channels.
While there may be truth to both sides, the need of the hour is to take corrective steps by both the government and the private recruiting agencies, so that Bangladesh can regain its lost market and the number of Bangladeshi workers abroad reaches the 2008 level, if not more.
The question may arise: Why is it necessary to arrest the fall in manpower export? Expatriate workers’ remittances play an important role in our socioeconomic life. It can be broadly explained in two ways. At the macro-level, remittance helps Bangladesh make investments for industrial development and modernise its industries. This helps us increase our export of manufactured goods, which ultimately helps in making the balance of payments favourable.
Furthermore, remittance in Bangladesh arises as a poverty alleviation policy tool. Available sources suggest that in 2011, remittance was almost double the value of FDI in Bangladesh.
Micro-level benefits encompass both the community and family. At the community level, it generates multiplier effects in the local economy, creating jobs and spurring new services.
The year-long political unrest has adversely impacted the country’s economy, but the manpower sector is not affected by this unrest. Nobody knows how long the unrest will continue. In such circumstances, it is the expatriate workers’ remittances that can help Bangladesh maintain a reasonable growth rate. This stresses the need for arresting the fall in manpower export.