BMET syndicate hampers digitalisation of manpower immigration process
Reza Mahmud :
A syndicate of dishonest officials of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) has created obstacles to digitalisation of manpower immigration processes only for continuing corrupt practices for personal gains.
Stakeholders alleged that although government launched digital labour migration services in October 2022 at the BMET, the syndicate involved in making the false job documents is obstructing the execution of the smart migration process.
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad said at the inaugural ceremony, “As big as the digitalisation of BMET’s services sounds, I think its impact will be greater in the immigration sector.
Digitilsation of the process will definitely help the aspiring workers.”
Even after a year has already passed, the smart migration process has not progressing due to BMET’s vested quarters’ syndicate, sources said.
The sufferers including manpower exporters and migrant workers alleged that the syndicate has preferred manual processes where documents can be falsified, jobs can be falsified, and there’s no record or data of who’s going abroad.
The approve files with fake jobs or certificates, and discard the files- sometimes deleting entire files from the database.
Though the online clearance allows for safe immigration process from BMET whilst maintaining all documents are in order, ensuring safety for the aspiring migrant.
Authentic and reputable recruiting agencies prefer online clearance as they are not required to go into BMET offices and pay money for their files to be approved, and speed money need is removed.
However, few processing syndicates have taken BMET as hostage, and convincing the officials to only process manual files, where they are the controlling power.
In all, the migrant end is the true sufferer. The sufferers alleged that the online files, which are all auto verified, now, are delaying intentionally up to 15 days.
Whereas manual files are being processed quickly by getting ‘speed money’ as a graft.
This entire effort is to dissuade authentic users and recruitment agencies to use official and safe channels, and to continue the corruption and fake documentation of BMET staffs and the processing syndicate, stakeholders alleged.
When contacted, Mohammad Abul Bashar, President of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) told The New Nation on Sunday, “The manual system is hampering the tasks of speed immigration process.”
He expressed the hope that the crisis would be erased soon and full process would be digitalised shortly.
A high official declined to be named said that an initiative where BMET online immigration process is possible, it is being delayed by the processing syndicate.
An expatriate worker can apply for clearance and receive the BMET smart card through online in less time, less money and without any hassle.
