Bangladesh should seek international support in stopping visa trade in the labour migration process in the upcoming Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), said migration experts yesterday.
Visa trading means selling and buying of job visas by several intermediaries in both labour sending and hiring countries, ultimately increasing the cost of migration and causing labour exploitation, they said.
In most cases, Bangladeshi workers going abroad spend no less than Tk 2 lakh, which in some cases go up to Tk 5 lakh, but they cannot earn the amounts they spend.
Experts said there should be legal arrangements so that middlemen, even in the destination countries, can be brought to book.
The observations came at a national consultation meeting ahead of the fourth GFMD, a non-binding process, to be held in Mexico from November 8-9 this year.
Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment organised it with the assistance of Warbe Development Foundation, Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) and the United Nations Fund for Women (Unifem) at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
Professor CR Abrar, executive director of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit said, “When we talk about visa trading in the destination countries, the host countries say it has to be addressed in the country of origin.
“This cannot go on. They also have to take care of the migrants and check the middlemen [who trade on visas].”
In this regard, Bangladesh can also seek help of other countries, he said, adding, “We should not shy away.”
Briefing the day-long consultation, Unifem National Programme Manager Naheed Ahmed said the issue of climate change, migrants’ health and protection of the female migrants should be raised in the GFMD.
“Levy imposed on migrants by the destination countries is a huge burden and should be withdrawn,” said Shakirul Islam, chairman of Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Programme (OKUP).
Addressing as chief guest, Expatriates’ Welfare Secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan said nearly five crore people depend on the one crore Bangladeshi expatriates, and their causes must get more importance in all the development policies.
BMET Director General Khurshed Alam Chowdhury said Bangladesh’s proposals, if accepted in the GFMD, could also be consolidated in the regional forums.
Government officials and local and international NGOs took part in the consultation, where they emphasised on stronger collaboration between the ministries of expatriates’ welfare and foreign affairs, so that Bangladesh’s causes are duly raised in the GFMD.
