Discussants at a programme stressed the importance of assuring the safety and security of migrant workers by maintaining legal procedures with transparency and accountability.
Migration is as old as humanity and we live in an era of unprecedented human mobility, the speakers said, so we need to start thinking about it in new, smarter ways.
The development organisation Brac, the Barisal district administration, and the employment and manpower office jointly organised the programme at Ashwani Kumar Hall in Barisal city, marking International Migrants’ Day.
Md Shohidul Alam, deputy commissioner of Barisal, presided over the discussion with the slogan “avibasir abodan, samunnato desher maan (the contribution of migrants glorify the prestige of the motherland).” It was conducted by Zakir Hossain, field coordinator of the Brac migration programme. Nurul Amin, divisional commissioner, was present as chief guest.
Demographics, disasters, demand, disparities, dreams and desperation contribute to the migration story. Migrants are often forced to travel to the most dangerous places – shoreline, mountain slope, riverside and deserts, discussants said.
Tightened border surveillance and reduced opportunities for unskilled migrants drive people into the hands of manpower smugglers, whose unscrupulous trade is the fastest-growing sector in the organised crime world.
The contribution of migrants to growth and development is enormous, in both their host and home countries, but sadly many have been subjected to exploitation, harassment, abuse and even human trafficking, they observed.
The participants also stated that the lack of awareness puts migrant workers at risks. The most common forms of exploitation include overwork, monthly income below the minimum wage, lack of social security and sexual abuse.
Speakers emphasised the need for unconditional assistance from embassies, and for recruiting agencies to be transparent and accountable, to achieve the safe migration of manpower and safe repatriation of the workers during crisis periods.
They also focused on the essentials of changing migration management, migration market development, preparations for regional and global events information dissemination and counseling for safe migration.
They suggested launching an awareness campaign and comprehensive action plan for the protection of migrant workers, including the revision and application of the legal framework, and the training of migrant workers in labour rights.
Shawkat Ali, deputy director divisional public library, and Jalaluddin, vice president of Islami Bank, were among those who addressed the event.
