A recent survey has concluded that international migration not only plays a significant role in reducing poverty but also contributes to local development, which includes employment and living standards.
The study, conducted by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) based at Dhaka University, was unveiled at a workshop on “Impact of Migration on Poverty and Local Development” at Brac centre in the capital yesterday.
According to the survey, only 13% of the international migrants live below the poverty line whereas 40% of non-migrants live below the poverty line in the country. As per national data, 26 percent of people live below the poverty line.
The survey was conducted in 17 districts, representing all seven divisions, and interviewed 5,084 individuals from 102 villages.
RMMRU Chairperson Tasneem Siddiqui presented the key findings of the study while Dhaka University Economics Department faculty Selim Raihan presented another paper at the programme.
The report also claimed that international migrants create new employment opportunities for non-migrants of their respective neighborhood by offering a section of their land for share cropping. At the same time, they also employ workers from non-migrant families to help manage their poultry farms, livestock and other small-scale enterprises.
It also concluded that a total of 79 percent of the areas with high international migration rates regularly experienced inter-district seasonal migration.
The report also includes many other components including living standard, ownership of homestead and agricultural land, education and healthcare where international migrants have done better in comparison to non-migrants.
Speaking as the guest of honour, World Bank's lead Economist Zahid Hussain observed that the findings are not conclusively established.
“We need to ask who are these migrants? How do they finance?” he asked while saying that those who cross the age of 40 have less than 10 percent chance for migration.
The poor people have no direct access to international migration, Zahid said adding the average migration cost was between Tk 2,00,000 and Tk 3,00,000.
According to the survey, average migration cost is Tk 2,65,000.
Speaking as chief guest, Expatriate Welfare Secretary Khondaker Showkat Hossain said: “We have to establish discipline in migration sector.”
“If we cannot manage this properly, the workers' money would go to someone else's pockets,” he noted.
During the panel discussion, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Research Director Binayak Sen said things should be examined closely.
He, for example, citing the findings said international migrants had been donating to madrasa, mosques, and temples.
“Do such donations encourage a conservatism outlook?” he asked.
Centre for Policy Dialogue Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman said: “We should do something about returnee migrants.”
“What are these returnee migrants doing? How can we use their skills? However, there is no data concerning returnee migrants,” he said.
Brac Executive Director Mahabub Hossain said: “We should look into the additional costs for sending remittance.”
“Are intermediaries gobbling a handsome amount? We know that in some places 12% to 13% is charged for sending remittance whereas some countries charge only 4%,” he said.
Former advisor to the caretaker government Hossain Zillur Rahman suggested exploration of new labour markets.
“Around 18 to 20 hundred thousand new jobs seekers are entering the labour market every year,” he informed.
