Around two (2.0) million Bangladeshi expatriates have lost their jobs for coronavirus pandemic among which 8 lakh returned to the country in the last five months, Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE) sources said.
Those who lost their jobs but got stuck in different cities across the world mainly Middle east and Malaysia are passing their lives inhuman situation.
“In particular, at least 8 lakh expatriates who have returned to the country in the last five / six months may not be able to return to their respective countries of work” a position paper on Covid-19 situation prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described.
The worried thing is that the stranded workers mostly from middle eastern countries especially Saudi Arab, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain are not getting adequate medical facilities,” Md. Musharraf Hossain Additional Secretary, MoEWOE in a recent meeting has discussed.
The Bangladeshi workers are in passing inhuman conditions stuck at different cities for the log-down are counting time to return home soon after international flights are opened.
The honourable Prime Minister on May 14, 2020 has allocated Tk 500 crore to rehabilitee the returned expatriate workers and asked the ministry concerned to arrange them job.
“To this end, the ministry have been started to train them and give them job opportunities locally with a loan of Tk 10 lakh,” Mr. Mosharaff added.
Meanwhile, a video conference with development partners and UN organizations on the welfare and re-integration of returnee Bangladeshi workers from different countries due to Corona pandemic held on May 12. Dr. Ahmed Saleheen, Secretary, of the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment chaired the meeting.
Dr.Khallilur Rahman, Additional Foreign Secretary, MoFA, Md. Shamsul Alam, DG ( Additional Secretary), BMET, Md. Hamidur Rahman, DG ( Additional Secretary), WEWB,Md. Shahidul Alam, Additional Secretary, MoEWOE, Md. Musharraf Hossain Additional Secretary, MoEWOE, Mr. Giogri Giaguri, Chief of Mission, IOM Bangladesh, Ms Laetitia Weibel, Chief Technical Advisor, ILO, Bangladesh, Ms. Nasreen Jahan, Joint Secretary, MoEWOE, Md. Munim Hasan Joint Secretary, SSD, MOHA, Ms. Pravina Gurung, Country Director, IOM Bangladesh, Ms. Aneeka Rahman, World Bank, Bangladesh, Ms. Nazia Haider, Programme Manager, Safer Migration, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, SDC, Ms Suraiya Banu, ILO and Ms Ishita, IOM attended the meeting
They discussed about the negative health and socio economic impact of Corona virus- especially on migrant workers, reintegration process of the returnee migrants due to the present situation; assistance during pre-departure, post arrival information and re-integration programme for sustainable reintegration of returnee Bangladeshi migrants and etc. on the conference.
