The expatriates’ welfare ministry on Monday launched a digital platform with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to collect data of returnee migrants.
The platform named ‘Returning Migrants Management of Information Systems (ReMiMIS) will contribute to better migration data management and development of targetted reintegration support programmes, according to a press release, issued from IOM Dhaka office.
In addition, stakeholders will have access to information on the skills profiles of returning migrants and potentially contribute to skills transfers to communities and sectors in demand.
The data will support policymakers to understand the needs and vulnerabilities of returning migrant workers and help facilitate the creation of targetted and evidence-based reintegration and safety-net programmes.
The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), custodian of the ReMIMIS, will work closely with Union Development Centres (UDC), District Employment and Manpower Offices (DEMOs) to input migrants’ data into the system.
Imran Ahmad, minister for expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment, launched the ReMiMIS formally at a programme at Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training office in the city.
Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, secretary of the same ministry, Md Shamsul Alam, director general of BMET, Rensje Teerink, ambassador and head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, attended the event.
Imran Ahmad said the need for a database to collect information from returning migrants became very essential after the outbreak of Covid-19.
The database will help target support to those in need and with greater knowledge on their skills and qualifications, he said.
“We will be able to use the skills of migrants to avoid them becoming a burden on the state. We invested in skills training of migrants prior to their migration and on return we should put those skills to good use,” the minister said.
“I believe, the ReMiMIS platform will support targetted reintegration support and improved migration governance,” he added.