The cabinet is going to discuss new policy on Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Act 2013 with provisions to expand new labour market and consolidate the existing market.
The policy was last formulated in 2006 and recognizing the reality and changes that took place in the last 10 years, the new policy incorporated many new things.
It is scheduled to be discussed in Monday’s cabinet meeting and expected to get its stamp.
The new policy includes components like instructions at the seven fifth-year plan, protection of migrants, analysis of different labour markets and opening of new labour wings at the different embassies.
When contacted, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Khandker Mohammad Iftekhar Haider told the Dhaka Tribune that the new policy has many new features.
The seventh five-year plan which will be applicable from current fiscal to 2019-20 has specific directives about migrations, he said adding, “We incorporated all those in the new policy.”
The new policy also talked about protection of migration and dignity on foreign lands, the secretary said.
The labour wings will analysis market trend in different countries and send report to Dhaka about what type of professions have demand in which countries, he added.
When asked about the objection of foreign ministry about the sole authority of Expat ministry to open up new labour mission, he said different ministries have different views about the issue and he welcomed those.
A foreign ministry official seeking anonymity said labour wing should be opened after consulting with the foreign ministry.
Migration diplomacy is a part of greater diplomacy and opening of new labour mission should be considered in the context of greater diplomatic policy of the country.
Citing example, he said it is not possible to send labour to the Middle East countries in absence of political relations and such relationship is developed and nurtured by the diplomats.
“If we want to open up labour mission in Russia or Australia, there would be negative impact on our bilateral relationship,” he said.
He said expatriate welfare ministry was merged with its foreign ministry in India recently as they understood that migration is a very sensitive and political issue and the migration policy and its other components should be formulated after consulting with foreign ministry and other stakeholders.
