Hotline service for migrant workers launched
The hotline service 08000102030 is an information hub to link the recruiting and potential migrants
The government launched a hotline service to provide potential and recruited Bangladeshi migrants with information on reintegration support, referral support and safe migration.
The hotline service 08000102030 is an information hub to link migrants, their family members and community people with the available sustainable reintegration and safe migration services.
The hotline will be open from 7am to 11pm. However, calls coming at other times will be recorded and attendants will follow up on them.
The launching ceremony was held at an event of a joint project named "Prottasha" yesterday at the capital's Brac Center.
The project is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Brac Migration, and the International Organisation for Migration.
Additional Secretary to the expatriates welfare ministry Ahmed Munirus Saleheen said, "We have sufficient data on employed migrant workers but do not have the data on the returnees. The formation of a new database of migrant returnees is under process.
"Many people go abroad through unknown medium, which is an illegal process, and fall victim to unexpected dangers," he added.
Shariful Hasan, head of the Brac Migration programme, said, "A combined effort from the public and private sectors is necessary to serve our migrant workers.
"Any migrant worker can contact through the new helpline anytime for their help," he added.
Phineas Jasi, head (MEAl) of IOM Bangladesh, said, "Trafficked victims often find themselves in situations where they are not able to rescue themselves and can end up losing their lives. However, even when rescued, it is difficult to reintegrate the survivors into the society due to social stigma, cultural context, shame, trauma and desire to re-migrate to earn and pay off their previous debts."