Despite the enormous contribution of migrant workers to our economy, it is a shame that Bangladesh still lacks an effective system for grading recruitment agencies, leaving prospective migrants with little reliable information about whom they can trust.
This failure, recently acknowledged by State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Haque Nur yesterday, demands our urgent attention.
Thousands of workers invest their savings, sell land, or borrow heavily to secure overseas employment. Many are subsequently confronted with excessive recruitment fees, misleading job offers, and working conditions that differ sharply from what they were promised.
It should be understood that a licence alone cannot be treated as proof that an agency is competent, ethical, or deserving of public trust.
Agencies must be rigorously evaluated across key metrics: Recruitment practices, fee transparency, complaint histories, regulatory compliance, as well as post-placement worker protection.
These assessments should also be publicly accessible, allowing prospective migrants to make informed decisions.
However, grading alone will not solve the problem. The government must strengthen monitoring, investigate complaints promptly, and impose meaningful penalties on agencies that exploit workers.
Those repeatedly found guilty of misconduct should face licence suspension or cancellation, while victims must have access to compensation and legal assistance.
Bangladesh also needs to move away from a system that prioritizes the expansion of recruitment businesses over the quality of their services.
More agencies do not necessarily mean more opportunities, particularly when weak oversight allows unscrupulous operators to thrive. What matters is having reliable agencies that connect workers with legitimate employers at reasonable costs.
Our responsibility must also extend beyond the airport. Bangladesh's diplomatic missions should provide effective support to expatriates facing wage theft, contract violations, and workplace abuse.
Migrant workers are not merely sources of remittance income; they are citizens whose labour and sacrifices deserve protection. Building a trustworthy recruitment system is therefore a fundamental obligation to the people who help sustain our economy.
