The government is going to take massive step for repatriation of migrant workers who returned at home by providing them with various supports including financial, technical and jobs.
As part of its move, the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment is undertaking a project titled, “Recovery and Advancement of Informal Sector Employment Retaining of Returning Migrants.”
Once implemented, the returnees will get financial, technical and other facilities for economic rehabilitation. Stakeholders hope to create a database of migrant workers involved in various productive activities and small businesses and returning to the country to create employment.
The total cost of the project is estimated at Tk 427.30 crore. Of this, the government has set a target of spending Tk 2.30 crore from its own funds and Tk 425 crore from the World Bank loan.
In this regard, Mosammat Nasima Begum, a member of the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Department of the Planning Commission, said, “Once the project is implemented, orientation and counseling for the reintegration of migrant workers returning due to the Covid-19 pandemic, one-time cash payments, certification of skills through RPLs for their employment at home and abroad, and financial, technical and other facilities would be ensured.”
The main activities of the project are: orientation and counseling of 200,000 repatriated workers for rehabilitation, payment of Tk 13,500 cash assistance for per worker, selecting 23,500 skilled workers who have returned from various jobs, certification and cooperation in getting jobs at home and abroad.
Besides, it will also arrange meetings at district-upazila-union level to provide financial, technical and other facilities to the returnees for rehabilitation and to provide financial assistance to the migrants for financial rehabilitation and financial assistance.
It will also organize seminars and workshops to promote publicity through the use of digital technology.
An official of the Planning Commission said that a meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) was held on January 14 this year after receiving a proposal from the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment.
“It has been recommended to present it at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC),” he added.
Once approved, the Wage Earners Welfare Board will implement the project, starting this year.
According to sources, more than 1.25 crore Bangladeshi workers are working in various fields in 175 countries of the world.
Due to the recent global Covid-19 pandemic, many workers working abroad have lost their jobs and returned home.
From January to December 2020, about 4.80 lakh workers returned to the country and this trend is still continuing.
Most of these returning workers are unemployed. They are emotionally upset with their families and worried about the future.
Due to financial crisis, they are facing various unfavorable situations in the society.
The project is proposed to help reintegrate and rehabilitate a large number of returning workers.
Through the project, one-time cash incentives will be given by selecting the workers returning from abroad due to COVID-19, making a list with complete information and orienting and counseling them.
So that they can get involved in the right job or business with the right decision according to their qualifications and skills.
Skilled workers certified through RPL will be assisted to get jobs at home and abroad.
In order to make them self-reliant, financial and other financial assistance will be provided to them and they will be assisted to get loan assistance.