The governments of Bangladesh and Switzerland, together with the International Labour Organisation on Sunday launched a new project on sustainable reintegration for returned migrant workers, said a press release.
This extends a long-standing partnership and commitment to establish a gender responsive and inclusive policy frameworks with strengthened systems to ensure that return migrant workers are sustainably reintegrated and continue to contribute to the country鈥檚 growth and development.
The project aims to support the reintegration of returned migrant workers through institutions and an effective coordination mechanism that can effectively provide employment and business development support services to the workers, the release said.
In the welcoming remarks, expatriates鈥� welfare and overseas employment affairs additional secretary Md Saiful Haque Chowdhury said, 鈥楾he contribution of the project is going to be immense and instrumental and will significantly help us to develop our capacity, systems of inclusive and sustainable reintegration.鈥�
Md Mazharul Islam, national programme officer, ILO, delineated overview of technical supports of ILO on labour migration in the event.
Rahnuma Salam Khan, national project manager, ILO, presented the overview of 鈥楻eintegration for Migrant Workers Project鈥�.
Addressing the event as the chief gust, state minster for expatriates鈥� welfare and overseas employment , Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury, said, 鈥業 wholeheartedly appreciate the initiatives of our honourable Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina MP, for her visionary steps and prudent leadership for welfare and protection of migrant workers. My deep appreciation towards ILO and Switzerland for creating this umbrella for diverse stakeholders and development partners with the leadership of the Ministry of Expatriates鈥� Welfare and Overseas Employment. I wish all success of the project.鈥�
鈥楽witzerland has accompanied Bangladesh to design to the labour migration policy architecture in the country over the last 14 years and we are pleased with this long-standing partnership鈥�, said Corinne Henchoz Pignani, the deputy head of mission and head of cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland.
Tuomo Poutiainen, country director, ILO, said, 鈥楾he ILO has been a longstanding partner of Bangladesh, working together to achieve sustainable reintegration for migrant workers. I am very optimistic that this project will strengthen policy and institutional frameworks for improved governance, provide social protection for migrants, create a clear pathway for harvesting the skills and experiences of migrant workers which will significantly boosts the country鈥檚 economy.鈥�
Addressing the event as a special guest, Tanvir Shakil Joy, chairperson, Parliamentarians鈥� Caucus on Migration and Development said, 鈥� the ILO鈥檚 tripartite approach has made us more inclusive. As members of parliaments, we are bringing voices of migrants through civil society organizations and grassroots experiences into our national policies. As the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Migration and Development, I believe initiatives like this will guide us towards safe migration and sustainable reintegration.鈥�
鈥榃e have previously worked on diverse interventions on labour migration including reintegration with technical support from ILO. We already have some learnings from our past and existing experiences which will be considered during the implementation of this project. But the uniqueness of this particular project lies in its importance of sustainability. We have strong legal and policy foundations which yet to be fully implemented. I hope this project would provide a good example of joint efforts.鈥� said expatriates鈥� welfare and overseas employment affairs secretary Md Ruhul Amin.
The project launching and stakeholders networking event was also attended by members of parliament, representatives from the government, development partners, UN agencies, social partners, workers鈥� and employers鈥� organizations, private sector including recruiting agents civil society, Academia and media.