Outbound migrant workers were facing difficulties in registering for Covid-19 vaccine as they were going through a two-step registration process, workers and rights activists said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Workers also demanded the government provide them with clear information about required vaccines which had been approved by the destination countries.
The press conference was organised by Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM), a platform of migrant rights organisations.
The speakers suggested that the government follow a simple process for outbound workers' registration for Covid-19 vaccine and ensure single-shot vaccine for them to cut the hassle.
They stressed the need for proper services especially for Saudi Arabia and Kuwait-bound workers who would come to the capital to receive Pfizer vaccine. They also demanded decentralization of Pfizer vaccination so that workers can get relief from the hassle of transportation during the lockdown.
Tasneem Siddiqui, founding chair of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), presented a concept note at the press conference. She said so far 70,000 outbound workers were enlisted through Surokkha app for Covid-19 vaccine.
The government launched the registration process for Covid-19 vaccine for outbound migrant workers on July 5.
The workers must go through the two-step registration process through 'Ami Probashi App' at Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and then Surokkha app.
Some of the workers at the press conference said they applied for online registration 4-5 days before, but yet to receive any confirmation message on their mobile phone.
Besides, they are not getting due services from district employment and manpower offices.
Sumon Ahmed, an outbound worker who applied for vaccine registration, said his visa would expire within 22 days. It would take 72 hours to post confirmation message. After that he has to go through Surokkha app. So, he is now facing uncertainty.
Alhaz Mia, another worker, said he applied for vaccine registration on July 4, but he did not get confirmation message yet.
Tasneem Siddiqui suggested a simple registration process so that workers can go through it easily. She, however, said the data on workers and their families was being collected for registration purposes.
But there was no message of agreement in the application form that the data would not be used except migration related works, she added.
The RMMRU chair also made a request for providing detailed information to the workers about the registration procedure.
RMMRU executive director (ED) C R Abrar and director Marina Sultana, Syed Saiful Haque, chairman of WARBE Development Foundation, Hassan Imam Shaon, managing director of Center for Development Communications (DEVCOM), and Pervez Siddiqui, ED of Films 4 Peace Foundation, also spoke at the press conference.
arafataradhaka@gmail.com