Specialised bank for migrant workers, families on cards

Says state minister

16 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury yesterday said the government will launch a specialised expatriate welfare bank for migrant workers and their family members. She was speaking as the chief guest at a roundtable on 'Impact of migration on families' at United Nations Information Centre (UNIC). The government alone cannot solve all the problems of the migrants and their families, said the state minister adding that people from all walks of life should work together to help the families of migrant workers better utilise the remitted funds. Razia Begum, secretary to the ministry, was present at the roundtable as a special guest. The roundtable was chaired by UN Resident Coordinator Arthur Erkin and moderated by Kazi Ali Reza of UNIC. UNIC and Worldwide Family Love Movement jointly organised the roundtable. Presenting the keynote paper, Rabab Fatima, regional representative of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), said that migration is an integral part of this globalised world. It has both positive and negative impact on family. “Migration brings economic stability to the families, children of migrant workers get better education and improved health facilities. At the same time it has the emotional and psychological costs also that deserves consideration,” said Rabab. She stressed policy recommendations and awareness training of the migrant families on health and security issues and also urged for better utilisation of the migrant funds.