Ensure sustainable reintegration of returned migrants: Experts

Experts have laid importance on taking immediate steps by the authorities concerned to ensure sustainable reintegration of migrant workers upon returning home.

Preparing an updated and effective database of the returnees, adequate fund allocation, and adopting a time-befitting policy is necessary for sustainable reintegration of the returnees hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to them.

They were speaking at a virtual event on “International Conference on Reintegration of Returnee Migrants affected by Covid-19 pandemic,” jointly organised by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) and Manila-based Migrant Forum Asia (MFA) and the PROKAS Programme of British Council on Monday.

Over 400,000 migrant workers have returned home during the pandemic and many of them lost jobs and suffered physical and mental trauma.

Speaking at the event, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad said the government has already taken funding programmes to support the migrant workers, especially for those who were coming back home.

“Of Tk 700 crore already allocated for the returned migrant workers, Tk 146 crore have already been disbursed among them and more Tk 200 crore will be distributed by June,” he said.

About the database, the minister said though the government was working to prepare a database of incoming and outgoing migrant workers, in many cases, they were found “not interested to get them registered.”

Migration specialist Professor CR Abrar said there might be different opinions among the stakeholders in the migration sector but the ultimate goal of all was to uphold the dignity of the country’s migrant workers.

Regional Coordinator of the MFA William Gois said reintegration should be considered immediately as part of the country’s development as the migrant workers were returning home with huge resources such as skills, knowledge, and remittances.

“What is important is that the state should look at each migrant as a powerful seed of development,” he said

Speaking at the second session of the event, Centre for Policy Dialogue distinguished fellow Professor Mustafizur Rahman said sustainable reintegration process should start from day one when the migrant workers go abroad.

Bangladesh Employers’ Federation Secretary General Farooq Ahmed said a robust database of the migrant workers, incorporating detailed information, should be available to effectively reintegrate them upon returning home.

Swiss Embassy’s migration manager Nazia Haider said concerted efforts need to be taken for sustainable reintegration of all returnees.

ILO national programme officer Rahnuma Salam Khan said female migrants should be engaged in economic activities, as most of them usually returned home without savings.

Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA) Director Farida Yeasmin said about 50,000 female migrants have returned home during the pandemic and many of them could not have easy access to government financial support.

So a time-befitting policy on reintegration should be framed to address the issue, she said.

Film 4 Peace Executive Director Pervez Siddiqui said Probashi Kalyan Bank should make the loan process easier for the returned migrant workers.