migrant workers
Bangladesh continues to see robust remittance inflow; $922.10 mn in 10 days
According to Bangladesh Bank data, the country received $534 million during the same period last year while $572 million in the first 10 days of August last.
Officials at the central bank said the country has been witnessing an increased trend in remittance inflow since the government’s declaration of 2 percent incentives for remittance senders in July 2019 in
ILO, govt discuss needs of migrant workers with in-demand skills but no certification
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment hosted a high-level international webinar to look at the need to assess and certify the skills of millions of Bangladeshi migrant workers.
Rayhan’s arrest violates free speech rights: HRW
Criticising Bangladeshi migrant worker Mohammad Rayhan Kabir’s arrest by the Malaysian authorities, Human Rights Watch on Wednesday said the authorities should immediately release him and reinstate his work permit.
Humane treatment of migrant workers must to eradicate poverty: Envoy
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima has urged the development and trading partner countries to demonstrate responsible business conduct and to adopt a humane approach to protect the rights and livelihoods of the migrants and the migrant workers during the COVID crisis.
“The gains we had made in poverty eradication and women’s empowerment are at serious risk. This is not the time for economic and trade protectionism; rather this is the time for amplifying global solidarity,” she said.
The PR made the remarks while addressing a virtual side event of the High Level Political Forum entitled “Preserving and Advancing Global Progress on Eradicating Poverty: Responding to the COVID 19 Crisis” hosted by the Government of Canada recently in New York.
Ambassador Fatima mentioned that export earnings and remittances are critical for the poverty eradication in the developing countries, said a media release on Saturday.
Reflecting that bold, resolute, people-centric, and inclusive policies adopted by the Government of Sheikh Hasina had played a vital role in pulling millions of people out of poverty in Bangladesh, Ambassador Fatima shared with the participants different poverty reduction strategies such as expanded social safety net for the vulnerable people, financial inclusion, education of women and youth, gender equality, use of ICT and digitalization, strong disaster risk reduction programmes, and resilience building against climate change impacts.
Minister of Children, Family and Social Development of Canada Ahmed Hussen addressed the event that facilitated a lively dialogue with different countries and members of Canada’s National Poverty Advisory Council on lessons learned on the intersecting topics of poverty reduction and ‘restart and recovery’ efforts in the face of COVID-19, and opportunities for continuing progress on SDG 1: No Poverty.
The Minister reiterated Canada’s commitment to global poverty eradication and its support to the vulnerable developing countries such as LDCs and SIDS particularly in their resilience building and the development of the private sector including the MSMEs.
Stating that Bangladesh’s SDG implementation and poverty eradication plans are likely to suffer setbacks from the pandemic, Ambassador Fatima reiterated that poverty eradication would be the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s post COVID recovery plans.
She urged the development partners, multilateral donors and the private sector to come forward to support developing countries in sustaining and building productive capacity, growth of resilient infrastructure, diversification of the economies, and job creation.
She also underscored the need for separate stimulus packages and innovative support measures for the graduating LDCs such as Bangladesh to preserve their gains in poverty eradication and prevent a slide back.
Catherine Adam, Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Strategic and Service Policy Branch Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) warned the participants of the widening inequalities induced by the COVID 19 pandemic and highlighted the importance of putting in place inclusive systems. Several speakers lauded Bangladesh for attaining rapid poverty eradication with the help of pragmatic measures.
Seek collective negotiation to save migrant workers: Experts
Speakers on Wednesday urged the countries of origin to collectively negotiate with the countries of destination to stop any forced return of migrants noting that the global migration regime obliges destination countries to look after the migrants although currently they are being subjected to forced return.
Lack of skills, low levels of financial literacy make migrant communities vulnerable: IOM
The United Nation’s Migration Agency, International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday urged communities to support the reintegration and combat stigmatization of returning migrant workers to Bangladesh.
On the International Day of Family Remittances, IOM said due to the economic and labour crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers are expected to return by the end of the year, said a press release.
COVID-19: 16 rights bodies seek special fund for migrant workers
Sixteen rights bodies urged the government to create a specific fund for the migrant workers and their families as many workers have lost their jobs and were forced to return home due to coronavirus pandemic.
Killing in Libya: IOM calls for launching probe immediately
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has called on the Libyan authorities to immediately launch an investigation to bring those responsible to justice and deplored the killing of 30 migrants, including 26 Bangladeshis, in a shooting involving a trafficker in Libya.
Train runs over migrant workers in India; 14 killed
A train in India crashed into a group of migrant workers walking along the railroad tracks on to their way back to their home state on Friday, killing at least 14, officials and local media said.
Indian authorities send buses to take unemployed to villages
Authorities sent a fleet of buses to the outskirts of India's capital on Saturday to meet an exodus of migrant workers desperately trying to reach their home villages during the world's largest coronavirus lockdown.