Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE) ministry is working for the outbound migrant workers so that they get vaccinated as a priority when the Covid-19 vaccine will arrive in the country.
EWOE will formally approach the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to this effect, said its minister Imran Ahmad on Saturday in a programme in the capital.
He has also sent a letter to the health ministry to get free coronavirus testing for outbound migrant workers.
Mr Ahmad was speaking as a chief guest at a debate competition titled ‘Sending Skilled Worker will Make Sure Safe Migration’, organised by Debate for Democracy (DFD) on the occasion of International Migrants Day-2020.
Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, chairman of DFD, moderated the programme, while Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, secretary of the EWOE, spoke on the occasion.
The EWOE minister said the migrant workers are contributing immensely to the country’s economy. In view of their contribution, the ministry has taken different initiatives.
The Covid-19 testing fee for migrant workers was Tk 3,000 earlier. Later, it was revised to Tk 1,500 following the suggestion of his ministry, the minister said.
“Now we are working on how to make the testing fee for the workers. Besides, we will send a letter to the health minister so that the workers get priority in coronavirus vaccination,” he mentioned.
He also said that they are working for combating human trafficking in the name of labour migration. Middlemen will be brought under regulation to cut unethical practices in the process of sending workers abroad.
They have also taken an initiative to explore jobs in new markets. Bangladesh has already started sending workers to new countries, including Romania, Albania, Uzbekistan and Croatia.
The ministry is providing income-generating fund and training for the returnee workers to start livelihood activities, he added.
DFD chairman said workers should be skilled before going abroad to get good jobs and benefits. He also stressed safe and orderly migration.
The EWOE secretary said they are emphasising sending skilled workers as the demand for such workers is increasing gradually in the job destination countries.
