Social, economic reintegration policy necessary

Speakers at a workshop yesterday emphasised formation of a policy for socially and economically reintegrating returnee Bangladeshi migrants.

A policy and services are needed that help equalise opportunities and benefits for women and men, UN Women Country Representative in Dhaka Christine Hunter said as the special guest.

The workshop, "Establishment of reintegration and referral services for returnee migrant workers", was jointly organised by UN Women and Migration Programme Brac at the latter's auditorium in the capital.

Mentioning that work opportunities and benefits differ for women and men around the world, Christine Hunter said women and men were experiencing different situations after migrating to destination countries.

Some migrants experience the good sides while some others experience abuse and exploitation, but the reintegration programme must include both groups, she added.

Addressing as chief guest, Hazrat Ali, additional secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, said the government was preparing a database of returnee migrants as it was important for taking up any reintegration programme.

Four returnee women from Middle Eastern countries shared their experiences and said they were not getting sufficient financial support.

They demanded that the government and the development organisations provide financial support to help them become small entrepreneurs.

The UN Women and Migration Programme Brac started working on the returnee migrants under a project beginning October 2014, which will continue till the end of this month.

The project encompassed 364 men and 139 women returnees of eight upazilas in Dhaka, Manikganj and Faripur. Of them, 48 were provided livelihood assistance and 35 capacity building training on small business development.

However, both organisations highlighted that the returnees do not get any support for social reintegration while the women often face social stigma and discrimination.

Sheepa Hafiza, director of gender justice and diversity, Migration Programme Brac, moderated the programme and Shafiqul Islam, director of Wage Earners' Welfare Board, also spoke.