Expatriates' welfare ministry launched a digital platform with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Monday to collect data of migrant returnees.
The platform, 'Returning Migrants Management of Information Systems (ReMiMIS), will contribute to better migration data management and development of targeted reintegration support programmes, according to an IOM statement.
In addition, stakeholders will have access to information on skills profiles of the returnees and potentially contribute to skills transfers to communities and sectors in demand.
The data will support policymakers to understand the needs and vulnerabilities of the workers and help facilitate the creation of targeted and evidence-based reintegration and safety-net programmes.
The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), the custodian of the ReMIMIS, will work closely with union development centres, and district employment and manpower offices to input data into the system.
Expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister Imran Ahmad formally launched the platform at a programme at the BMET office in Dhaka city.
Expatriates' welfare secretary Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, BMET director general Md Shamsul Alam, and ambassador and head of the delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink attended the event.
Minister Mr Ahmad said there was a need for a database to collect information from the returning migrants after the outbreak of Covid-19.
It will help support those in need and with greater knowledge of their skills and qualifications, he added.
"We'll be able to use the skills of migrants… We invested in skills training of migrants prior to their migration. On return, we should put those skills to good use."
"I believe the ReMiMIS platform will provide targeted reintegration support and improved migration governance," the minister mentioned.
arafataradhaka@gmail.com