Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said the government would take steps to check airfare volatility so that migrant workers can go to their job destination countries on time.
"We have come to know that airfares have become unbearable. Such higher airfare is totally unacceptable," he said while speaking as the chief guest at an event.
The expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry organised the programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, marking the International Migrants Day (IMD).
Expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister Imran Ahmad presided over the programme. Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, secretary of expatriates' welfare ministry, delivered welcome speech and Anisul Islam Mahmud, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry, was the special guest.
Dr Momen said he has communicated with the state minister for civil aviation and tourism over taking measures to bring down the airfare at reasonable level.
The minister also said he has requested the prime minister to intervene in this matter so that 'airfares remain stable'.
"We are working to minimise the sufferings of migrant workers. We have already installed CCTV camera to monitor services at the airport," he added.
His ministry also launched two projects so that workers get passport related services easily at their job destination countries.
UNB adds: The foreign minister called for joint efforts to address the migration-related challenges with more skilled workers and achieve the government's goal to send 1,000 workers, on average, abroad from each upazila of the country every year.
"As per the directives of the prime minister, our government is working towards the goal of sending 1,000 workers a year from each upazila on average. Achieving this goal is not possible for the government alone," he said.
For this, Dr Momen said, all stakeholders, including development partners, international organisations, NGOs and the civil society have to work together apart from government's support.
The foreign minister said he firmly believes that the challenges of overseas employment can be overcome through sincere cooperation and efforts of all.
In the wake of the global Covid-19 epidemic, the foreign minister said, various problems and challenges have emerged in the management of migrants which has had some effects on sending migrant workers from Bangladesh.
"But under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the present government has been able to successfully deal with the situation created by Covid-19 by taking various effective measures," he said.
Dr Momen said the government has taken swift measures to address the challenges faced by the expatriate workers during the pandemic.
Due to various timely measures, including a 2.0 per cent incentive announced by the government, he said, the expatriate brothers and sisters have sent a record amount of remittances of US$ 24.78 billion in the fiscal year 2020-2021, which is 36 per cent more than the previous year.
The concerted efforts to protect and expand the existing labour markets abroad, create new labour markets and, above all, address the challenges of expatriate workers must continue, said the foreign minister.
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