Ensure safe return of migrant workers
THOUSANDS of expatriate Bangladeshis employed in the Middle Eastern countries but currently stranded at home for months amid the Covid -19 pandemic have been facing difficulties flying to their respective destinations due to limited access to air tickets. They might face job-related complications and even their visas could expire if they fail to reach workplaces before the vacation ends. The outbreak of the pandemic has also put thousands of migrants at risk of losing their jobs as global economy struggles.
Media reports in a national daily said six Arab countries — Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain — are altogether home to about 76.93 per cent of the country’s more than one crore expatriate workers. It said the demand for international airlines tickets reached excessively high in recent time due to suspension of regular passenger flights. Regular air communications with most of the countries, particularly the Middle East, remained suspended due to the pandemic. The demands for tickets to Arab countries could be about one lakh.
In addition, many Bangladeshi migrants who have already lost their jobs now find themselves stranded in foreign lands reportedly in extremely tough conditions. The host countries are also reportedly experiencing economic hardship because of the pandemic. Once those countries relax restrictions and air travel resumes, it is feared that a few hundred thousand migrant workers will return to Bangladesh. Biman Bangladesh Airlines should take immediately steps to increase flight numbers, particularly to the Middle East, to mitigate the crisis. An estimated 10 million Bangladeshis working abroad have sent home 18.32 billion dollar in 2019. It is the country’s second-largest source of foreign earnings after its gigantic garments sector. And most of the remittances come from the Gulf countries.
As our economy will also suffer because of the pandemic, it will be a difficult challenge for the government to create enough employment to make up for the jobs that are lost abroad. Therefore, the government needs to start formulating plans to achieve just that from now on. Besides, creating new jobs for returning migrants, the government could consider granting them loans to set up their own businesses, as well as provide skills training programmes to help them regain employment quicker.
In addition, many Bangladeshi migrants who have already lost their jobs now find themselves stranded in foreign lands reportedly in extremely tough conditions. The host countries are also reportedly experiencing economic hardship because of the pandemic. Once those countries relax restrictions and air travel resumes, it is feared that a few hundred thousand migrant workers will return to Bangladesh. Biman Bangladesh Airlines should take immediately steps to increase flight numbers, particularly to the Middle East, to mitigate the crisis. An estimated 10 million Bangladeshis working abroad have sent home 18.32 billion dollar in 2019. It is the country’s second-largest source of foreign earnings after its gigantic garments sector. And most of the remittances come from the Gulf countries.
As our economy will also suffer because of the pandemic, it will be a difficult challenge for the government to create enough employment to make up for the jobs that are lost abroad. Therefore, the government needs to start formulating plans to achieve just that from now on. Besides, creating new jobs for returning migrants, the government could consider granting them loans to set up their own businesses, as well as provide skills training programmes to help them regain employment quicker.
