PM for steps against those trying to go abroad illegally [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

PM for steps against those trying to go abroad illegally

Local May 25, 2015

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said steps needed to be taken against those trying to go abroad illegally risking their lives and the middlemen as they were tarnishing the country’s image abroad.‘Measurers should be taken against those trying to go abroad illegally alongside the middlemen as they’re denting the country’s image,’ she said.The prime minister said this at a meeting with officials of the labour and employment ministry at the secretariat.She said these illegal migrants were putting their lives at risk. ‘I think steps need to be taken against them so that this illegal migration comes to an end.’
The prime minister’s came up with the concern as hundreds of Rohingyas and some Bangladeshis landed in overcrowded boats on the shores of various Southeast Asian countries on their sea voyage to Malaysia as human smugglers abandoned their boats because of crackdowns by the authorities.
Referring to the growing illegal migration through sea routes, Hasina said these people had no idea where they were actually heading towards. ‘Now their bodies are found in forests,’ she bemoaned.
The prime minister said the labour and employment ministry should take an initiative for publishing the negative sides of such illegal migration. ‘There’s no need to go illegally by giving money to the middlemen because they ultimately get trapped,’ she said.
Briefly describing the various initiatives taken by her government for the welfare of migrants and expatriates, she said it was painful that some people were stepping towards an uncertain journey.
‘Why’re they going…it’s not correct all are doing this because of poverty…it seems they’re running after the golden deer, they think much money is there abroad…this is a sort mental sickness.’
Hasina said they could do something to earn their livelihood in the country with the money these people are giving to the middlemen.
‘They could’ve led a comfortable life and engage in better jobs here,’ she said suggesting steps initiatives so that people would not go abroad illegally.
Chaired by state minister of labour and employment ministry Mujibul Haque Chunnu, the meeting was attended by senior officials of the ministry.
The prime minister said the government was able to regularise the status of 6.5 lakh illegal Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia while over 8 lakh in Saudi Arabia through fruitful discussions with their respective governments.
Terming the Awami League government as a labour-friendly one, Hasina said her government was determined to ensure the welfare of the working class and 29 labour welfare centres in the country’s industrial zones are providing services to this end.
She narrated steps of the Awami League-led governments on Labour Act and Labour Policy, and said the Bangabandhu government had framed the Labour Policy in 1972 to establish an exploitation-free society and formed Labour Directorate in 1974.
In continuation of those steps, the government made the Labour Act-2006 more time-befitting one through amending it in July 2013 protecting the interests of the working class, she told the meeting.
Hasina said the National Labour Policy 2012 and the National Professional Health and Safety Policy, 2013 were formulated by her government to industrialise the country, ensure compliance and sustain in competitive external trade and commerce.
She mentioned that National Industrial Health and Security Council was formed for the first time in Bangladesh history with labour and employment affairs minister as its chairman.
The prime minister said the Child Labour Policy 2010 was formulated fixing 38 types of works as risk-prone ones for children as these are harmful in consideration of child health, security and morality.
Stressing the need for enhancing training programmes to develop skilled manpower, the prime minister said steps should be taken to impart training on language, works and law of the country where the workers wanted to go.
She said during the tenure of her government since 2009, nearly 8.5 lakh youths were imparted training and employment opportunities were created for over 2.40 lakh unemployed youths at home.
Hasina also mentioned the creation of self-employment through distribution of collateral-free loans, national service guarantee scheme, information service activities in rural areas, one house one farm project and expansion of vocational education.
Coming down heavily on the foreign countries that were talking too much about wages and working conditions at various factories and industrial organisations in Bangladesh, the prime minister said they would have to first look at their own houses.
Elaborating various measures of her government to ensure a secure working environment in factories and industrial units, Hasina said the Mill-Factory and Organisation Inspection Directorate was upgraded to a department to strengthen its capacity.
She said 32 inspection teams of this department visited nearly 18,000 factories, including that of garment, till April 2015 to inspect those for by themselves.
Besides, a project titled ‘Improving Working Conditions in the Ready-Made Garment Sector in Bangladesh’ was undertaken by the ILO at a cost of 24.5 million dollars to implement the work plan aimed at ensuring secure employments.
Over 2,900 garment factories have already been inspected under the project through the National Initiative, ACCORD and ALLIANCE, she said adding that a number of factories have been penalised for violation of the Labour Law.
About the wages, the prime minister said her government has raised the wages of workers of the highest foreign currency earning garment industries several times increasing it from Tk 1,662 to minimum Tk 5,300 in just five years’ time.
Hasina also mentioned the tragic accidents of Tajrin Fashion, Nimtali incident and Rana Plazza building collapse, and said financial assistance has been provided to families and victims affected by the incidents.