Labour attaches, the first line of defence in protecting the rights of Bangladeshis working abroad, are failing to provide quality service to the 8,000,000 migrants who remit vast amounts of foreign currency to the country.
This was the finding of a study by a Dhaka University (DU) affiliated research group, the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU).
The RMMRU’s findings were revealed at a workshop on “Institutional Strengthening of the Office of Labour Attache: Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka” at the Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University yesterday.
The report was prepared by interviewing Bangladeshi heads of mission, labour attaches and migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Malaysia, said research coordinator CR Abrar. He said the Indian and Sri Lankan experience in dealing with migrant labour issues was also analysed.
According to the study, Bangladesh’s recruitment process and training for labour attaches was flawed.
Sri Lanka allows only those who work in the ministry of labour or in a concerned line agency to serve in the role at foreign missions.
By contrast, Bangladesh openly advertises the post among cadre and non-cadre officials of various ministries, and officials with neither field experience nor proper awareness of the issues get posted.
Moreover, while talking to this correspondent on various occasions, officials at the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry alleged that high-level political lobbying dominated the posting process.
Tensions between the labour wing and other wings of embassies were often a problem. High handedness of those representing the ministry of foreign affairs undermined the morale of those staffing the labour wings.
Physical distances in large countries such as Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, a lack of qualified personnel and resources, the absence of laws pertaining to domestic workers in the Gulf states, the high cost of legal assistance and the presence of migrants with irregular and undocumented status were some of the major challenges identified by labour attaches.
Labour attache performance in country were subject to delays, indecision and actions by line agency or ministry officials back home, the report found.
Often, the physical movement of labour attaches was constrained due to a lack of vehicles or fuel.
The study revealed that migrant workers had to go to labour attache offices an average of four times to receive a particular service.
Speaking as chief guest, expat ministry additional secretary Hazrat Ali said the mindset of officers had to be changed if they are to provide services to migrants who are contributing to the economy.
Speaking as a panelist, the joint secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Selim Reja, said there should be a requirement of two years’ field experience in order to be posted as a labour attache.
Reja, who worked as a labour attache in Kuwait, said officers have to be pro-active to deliver services to migrant workers.
Expat ministry deputy secretary Kazi Kalam said there were 16 labour wings in 14 countries looking after migrant worker issues. Twelve more labour wings have been created, and another two are slated to be added.
Kalam, who was posted to Saudi Arabia, said training had been implemented to improve the quality of service.
RMMRU recommended that labour attache appointees have a minimum of two years’ experience in service at the district level or in dealing with labour issues.
