Migrant workers must be trained to create a skilled workforce

Nearly 12.5 million Bangladeshi workers are now working abroad. The number may be overwhelming, but only 2 per cent of them are skilled. This figure appeared in a recent survey report conducted by Bangladesh Bank.

The report was based on data of migrant workers’ loans taken from various banks.

Incidentally, state-owned commercial bank Agrani Bank and private bank Probashi Kallyan Bank are the only two banks that provide loans to overseas job-seekers.
Probashi Kallyan Bank has provided an amount of nearly Tk 1.12 billion from 2011-2012 fiscal to 2014-2015 fiscal. Agrani Bank began providing loans to the workers since 2014-15 fiscal. It lent nearly Tk 24.5 million in the year 2017-18 which is meagre compared to the actual demand.

Due to strict terms, conditions and tedious procedures in Agrani Bank and Probashi Kallyan Bank, and having no other banks, the workers turned to NGOs and local money lenders. Many others take loans from friends and relatives. Some sell their properties for the overseas dream job.

The Bangladesh Bank report has recommended that complex loan application procedures be simplified and proper supervision of loan recovery be ensured. The proposal also recommends that other banks come forward to provide loans to overseas job-seekers and initiating agent banking at remote places.

Workers’ lack of skills and other hidden costs revealed in the report should be taken into account. Certain unscrupulous recruitment agents take excessive money, overwhelmingly more than the actual costs from the workers. They provide false documents and send the workers abroad. These workers fave miserable lives and suffering.

As per the survey of Bangladesh Bank, 62 per cent of the migrant workers are unskilled and 36 per cent are semi-skilled. The picture is appalling.

If we do not take action to adjust to the new situation immediately, the employment of the migrant workers may fall drastically.

In terms of educational qualification, the percentage of primary and lower secondary passed workers is 24.9 and 26.2 respectively.

The percentage of secondary and above secondary level workers is 23.2 per cent and 12.2 per cent respectively.

There are huge differences in educational qualifications between the foreign workers working in Bangladesh and Bangladeshi migrant workers. It is often noticed that the average salary of a foreign worker working in Bangladesh is much higher than a Bangladeshi worker working abroad.

The number of Bangladeshi female workers abroad is 121,925, which is 12.9 per cent of the total workers. They are being abused the most and many are forced to return home early.

Most of the migrant workers of Bangladesh work in a number of Middle East countries and Malaysia. The demand for unskilled workers is decreasing as the use of modern technology is growing in these countries.

Under the circumstances, attention must be paid to sending skilled and trained workers abroad. Workers are also facing language problems in different countries including Saudi Arabia. Suitable training must be provided to these workers.

Modern and advanced training centres must be set up. If not, it will be difficult for us to survive in the global labour market.