Speakers at a virtual conference stressed on the need for forming a policy for reintegration support to returnee migrant workers to improve their livelihood and psychosocial condition.
They also suggested forming necessary fund and providing skill training to start economic activities successfully at home.
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) in collaboration with Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) and PROKAS, British Council launched the two-day virtual conference titled: ‘International Conference on Reintegration of Returnee Migrants affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic’ on Monday.
Professor Tasneem Siddiqui, founding chair, Professor CR Abrar, executive director of RMMRU and economist Professor Mustafizur Rahman moderated different sessions of the conference while national and international migrant rights defenders and experts spoke.
Mustafizur Rahman said reintegration process starts at the pre-departure stage of an outbound worker. So, proper pre-departure briefing is necessary for every worker.
He also emphasised developing returnee workers’ database and said without data it is not possible to take a proper plan for reintegration of migrant workers.
Mr Rahman also said holistic approach is needed to address the issue in this sector.
Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, full time member of the National Human Rights Commission said workers’ rights should also be ensured at job destination countries. If workers get due benefits and rights, their reintegration process will be eased at home.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE) Minister Imran Ahmad joined the programme and said more than 400,000 workers returned home being impacted with coronavirus pandemic. They are implementing loan project and skill upgrading training for returnee workers.
But they are not getting good responses from the workers to utilise the benefits, he said.
In this situation he sought cooperation from the rights organisations to help chalk out solution.
Syed Saiful Haque, chair at WARBE Development Foundation, William Gois, regional coordinator of MFA, Sumaiya Islam, executive director, Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra-BNSK, and Farooq Ahmed, secretary general at Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI), among others attended the event.
