Editorial
Manpower sector in a crisis
Find alternative job markets
There is no denying that Bangladeshi workers have made their mark abroad by dint of hard work and diligence. They have been big contributors to the national exchequer remitting huge amount of foreign exchange from countries they work in. Some eight million Bangladeshis went to 110 countries during 1976 -2011 period.
However, a large number of returnees from Libya pose a challenge for the government now. Their rehabilitation has just got underway, but there could be more returnees. There have been problems with Malaysia and Dubai. Malaysia had stopped hiring our workers in 2009; however there is a move to lift the ban soon. But the good news is that the Malaysia has decided to regularise three lakh Bangladeshi workers over the next three months. The authorities must ensure that the workers are not subjected to harassment in the process of regularisation.
To address the problems faced in the manpower export sector, the government ought to prioritise its agenda. It has to gear up the effort to explore alternative job markets in Europe, East Asia and Africa to make up for the predicaments in Japan, ME and North Africa. Health care and hospitality sector could be prospective areas for our skilled workers in Europe.
The government has to ensure adequate training of workers before recruitment. This requires setting up of sufficient number of modern training centres across the country, some with specialised facilities customised to the demand patterns in newer manpower importing countries. Of foremost necessity is keeping migration cost at a minimum as majority of the workers have to meet the cost by selling property or other belongings.
Entire process of exporting manpower should be built around the principle that our workers are appointed legally and able to complete the entire contract period with assured enjoyment of legitimate pay and service conditions. Under no circumstances, they should be forced to or voluntarily become illegal workers. It is not a healthy practice to face deportation and make entreaties for legitimisation.
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