Bangladeshi expat workers coming under insurance coverage this month
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will launch the life insurance policy for migrant workers on December 19
Bangladesh is set to introduce life insurance policy for its expatriate workers.
Under the policy, migrant workers will get compensation if they suffer any risks and health issues in their destination countries.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will launch the policy on December 19, said Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, additional secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, at a journalism training programme in the capital on Wednesday.
The government is also planning to introduce some supportive programmes to provide the returnees with psychological counselling and economic support for their reintegration, he added.
Dr Saleheen said migrant workers play a significant role in the economy of Bangladesh. Bangladesh earned about $15billion in remittance in 2018, which is 8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
"Imposing a ban on sending workers is not a solution to the untimely deportation of workers," he said.
Bangladeshi workers are deported from Saudi Arabia and Malaysia - the major job markets for Bangladeshis abroad – because of nationalisation of a few jobs for the nationals of those countries.
Dr Saleheen said the government does not want a ban on the migration process but they are looking forward to potential job markets in Poland and Japan.
Japan with the rise in older population requires caregivers. Bangladesh is trying to catch the market by training its workers.
"Another challenge is most of our workers are unskilled and we need to develop their skills," said the government official.
There are 70 overseas employment technical training centres under the expatriate ministry and 55 market responsive skill development trainings are underway.
"But the challenge is every country does not recognise the training. The government is working for the recognition of the training in the potential destination country," said Dr Saleheen.
Giorgi Gigauri, head of the International Organization for Migration in Bangladesh, said, "We need to look at the positive sides of the migration process besides the negative ones. Many female expatriates are sending money to provide for their families and contribute to the economy."
"We need to address the challenges and solve them instead of deciding to stop sending our female workers to Saudi Arabia," he added.
Gigauri praised the government for its role in the Rohingya issue.
"Although Bangladesh did not ratify the Refugee Convention by the United Nations, it has provided the Rohingyas with protection and humanitarian assistances," he said while replying to a question on the restrictions on Rohingyas on their mobility and mainstream education in Bangladesh.