A recent report indicates a significant 13% rise in the number of Bangladeshi laborers migrating to various countries in 2023 compared to the previous year. However, despite the surge in migration, remittance inflows experienced only a modest increase of 2.88% over the same period.
Unveiled at the National Press Club, the annual report titled “The Pace of Labor Migration from Bangladesh 2023: Success and Challenges” by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) shed light on key trends in migration and remittance patterns.
During the press conference, Md Selim Reza, a full-time member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), graced the event as the chief guest alongside RMMRU founding chair Prof Tasneem Siddiqui.
According to data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET), over 1.3 million Bangladeshi workers ventured abroad in 2023, marking a substantial increase from the 1,135,873 workers who migrated in 2022.
Despite the surge in migration, remittance inflows saw only a marginal uptick. In 2022, remittances totaled $21.28 billion, which increased to $21.92 billion in 2023, reflecting a mere 2.88% growth, as per the report’s findings.
The report also highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migration patterns. Following a period of low migration in 2020-2021 due to the pandemic, migration rebounded in 2022 and continued into 2023 as workers seized opportunities to migrate.
Additionally, the report points out concerns regarding the licensing and operation of recruiting agencies. In 2023, the number of licensed recruiting agencies stood at 2,153, with 693 agencies dedicated to sending female workers to Saudi Arabia. However, the BMET suspended the licenses of 249 agencies and canceled licenses of 128 agencies following 50 complaints and investigations.
Prof Tasneem Siddiqui emphasized the need for policy implementation to prioritize the welfare of migrant workers and ensure the quality of migration. Moreover, she stressed the importance of conducting further studies to understand the reasons behind workers’ return migration and advocated for enhanced skills training before migration.
Md Selim Reza underscored the significance of providing proper skills training to protect migrant workers from exploitation, particularly in countries like Korea and Japan, where language barriers pose challenges to integration and job stability.
Ensuring the qualification and skillfulness of migrants, alongside language proficiency, emerged as key factors in enhancing the quality of migration and augmenting remittance inflows, Reza highlighted, urging collective efforts from stakeholders and government intervention in skill development initiatives.
