The Bangladesh Parliamentarians' Caucus on Migration and Development (BPCMD) has urged for a higher allocation in the national budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to cater to the well-being of migrant workers and returning workers.
At present, more than 10 million Bangladeshi expatriates are working in 176 countries around the world. With their labour and sweat, Bangladesh is on the way to development now, said a press release issued on Saturday.
The contribution of migrant workers to national development is widely recognized but they are always neglected in the national budget, BPCMD said.
It noted that the finance minister did not allocate any funding for the migrant workers in the proposed budget on Thursday. He told the parliament that the speed of remittance flow in the country is not satisfactory in proportion to the number of expatriates working abroad due to the lack of skills, reads the press release.
However, BPCMD said, Bangladesh Bank's recent report shows the total expatriate income in the country in 2022 is over $2,000 million dollars.
Allocations for expatriates in proposed budget
In the proposed budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year presented in parliament on Thursday, the finance minister proposed an allocation of Tk1,018 crore for the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.
The allocation is Tk419 crore more than the last budget.
However, in the budget of the current 2022-23 fiscal year, a proposal was made to allocate Tk990 crore, but in the revised budget, it is reduced to Tk599 crore.
Even though there are other ministries related to expatriate welfare, the most important role is played by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.
BPCMD believes it is important to provide a separate budget to each ministry for the welfare of expatriates.
BPCMD's call
Members of BPCMD have called for an increase in the budget for the 2023-24 financial year for the welfare of migrant workers or returning workers.
BPCMD has specifically proposed allocating Tk4,500 crore for the well-being of immigrants
BPCMD believes one of the driving forces of this country's economy is expatriate income or remittances.
