The council of advisers to the interim government in principle approved the draft of the ‘Overseas Employment and Migrants (amendment) Ordinance-2024’, which aims to check several irregularities in the migration process, reduce migrants’ grievances and curb crime.
At a meeting of the advisory council, the cabinet division gave the final nod to the draft, tabled by the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry.
The ‘Overseas Employment and Migrants (Amendment) Act-2023’ was enacted to further amend the ‘Overseas Employment and Migrants Act-2013’ with a view to safe, orderly and regular migration of migrant workers.
Following the 2023 amendment to the 2013 Act’s Section 35, currently there is a provision to impose punishment only if the recruiting agency sets up a branch office or appoints a sub-agent or representative or if a person presents himself as any of those without the approval of the local government. The ambit of sentencing by mobile courts has been narrowed due to other offenses under this act.
The latest amendment would see a Section 35 A, or Ka, added to the Act, stating, ‘If any person violates any of the provisions of this Act, not specifically mentioned in this Act, he or she will be punished with imprisonment not exceeding six months or with a fine not exceeding Tk 50, 000 or with both.’
This would expand the scope of crimes that could be punished under it.
It is also felt to be necessary to add the above Section-35 Ka to the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act-2013 in the public interest of monitoring complaints related to immigration, strengthening enforcement activities and considering the urgency.