PM For Punishing Migrant People Going Abroad In Illegal Way

"Side by side with the middlemen, punishment will have to be given against those who are moving from the country in illegal way ...they are tainting the image of the country along with pushing their life into a danger," she said.

"I think such an unlawful trend may be stopped if the fortune-seekers who are moving from the country in illegal way are punished side by side with the middlemen," she said.

The Prime Minister made the observation while addressing a meeting of the senior officials of the Labour and Employment Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu delivered the welcome address.

The Prime Minister asked the Labour and Employment Ministry to carry out campaign on stopping the illegal migration and human trafficking.

"You will have to conduct publicity and campaign so that the migrant people don't need to give money to the middlemen for going abroad in illegal way and doing this work, they are falling into a trap," she said.

The Prime Minister said those who are moving from the country by drifting in the sea have no idea where they are going. "Dead bodies are being found from the forests and jungles...it is very unfortunate," she said.

Despite various government steps for sending Bangladeshi workers in legal way, she said, such kind of people are moving to an uncertain destination after giving a huge amount of money to the middlemen.

"It's not true that everybody is moving in this way for want. They are in fact running after 'golden deer' as they think they would earn huge amount of money if they can go abroad," she said.

The Prime Minister said such type of people are becoming 'mentally sick' while moving to other countries in illegal way in search of money. "They are dying or their life become uncertain," she said.

"They could lead a better life if they do something through the money they are handing over to the middlemen for going abroad in illegal way," she said.

Spelling out her government's steps for the welfare of the expatriate Bangladeshi workers and the people who want to go abroad, the Prime Minister said her government has set up Probashi Kalyan Bank and Karmasangsthan Bank so that the people who want to go abroad don't need to sell their land or property.

"Besides, the government has made arrangement for their training and registration so that they are not harassed while going or staying abroad," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also mentioned her government's measures for regularising 6.5 lakh illegal Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia and over eight lakh illegal labours in Saudi Arabia through fruitful discussion with the respective governments.

"The labour market in different countries including Malaysia reopened due to massive efforts of the Awami League government in 2012, while the harassment of the people who want to go abroad has been reduced to a great extent thanks to manpower export through 'G2G' process," she said.

Terming Awami League led government as labour friendly, Sheikh Hasina said her government is firmly determined to ensure welfare of the working class people and 29 labour welfare centres in industrial zones of the country are providing services to this end.

The Prime Minister said Father of the Nation Bangbandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman framed the Labour Policy in 1972 to establish an exploitation-free society in the war-ravaged country.

"He formed the Labour Directorate by merging the Labour Directorate and the Trade Union Registration Directorate," she mentioned.

In its continuation, she said, the present government made the Bangladesh Labour Law-2006 time-befitting through amendment. "The Labour Law was further amended in July 2013 by protecting the interest of the workers," she added.

The Prime Minister said after the amendment to the Labour Law, registration has so far been given to 318 trade unions in the garment sector. Currently, there are 7,467 registered trade unions in different sectors.

Sheikh Hasina said the National Labour Policy 2012 has been framed and the government has formulated the professional health and safety policy 2013 for industrialization, implementation of compliance and sustaining in the competition of external trade.

The Prime Minister said the National Industry, Health and Security Council for the first time of the country's history was constituted with the labour and employment minister as its chairman.

She said steps have been taken to recognize the huge number of labour community who are involved in domestic work as workers and ensure their protection and welfare.

Sheikh Hasina said the retirement age of the workers in the private sector has been raised to 60 years from 57 years by keeping consistency with the government officials and employees.

The Prime Minister said the Child Labour Policy 2010 has been enacted by identifying 38 works harmful to child health, safety and morality.

She said the Labour and Employment Ministry has already executed three projects at three levels to remove child labour engaged in risky job.

While talking about safety in the garment factory, Sheikh Hasina said the Mills, Factory and Organization Inspection Directorate has been elevated to the department.

"As many as 32 inspection teams formed by the department have so far inspected 17,980 mills and factories including readymade garment factories till April 2015," she said.

The Prime Minister said the present government after assuming office formed the National Wage and Productivity Commission 2010 for fixing the wage structure for the workers of the state-owned industries.

Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government after taking office in 2009 refixed and implemented the minimum wage for the workers of the garment factories, the largest foreign currency earner sector, at Taka 3000 from Taka 1662 by raising 82 percent.

Later in 2013, she said, the government has re-fixed the minimum wage of the garment workers at Taka 5,300 from Taka 3000 by increasing 77 percent.

In her speech, Sheikh Hasina also mentioned the tragic accidents of Tajrin Fashion, Nimtali fire incident and Rana Plaza collapse and said financial assistance has been provided to families and victims affected by the incidents.

Coming down heavily on some "foreign countries" who are making "khabordari" (guardianship) about wages and working conditions at mills and factories in Bangladesh, she said they will have to manage themselves first.

"Whatever facilities the workers are receiving in Bangladesh are absent in those countries which are making guardianship on Bangladesh. If anybody stages movement in their working place he or she would be expelled," she said.

In this connection, the Prime Minister referred to tragic fire incident in Texas, the USA, even hospital was gutted and schoolchildren were killed in the blaze.

"We don't neglect the people in this way and we are sensitive about farmers and workers. We come to power to ensure welfare of the people by serving not enjoyment," she said.

Stressing the need for enhancing training programmes to develop skilled manpower, the Prime Minister said, steps will have to be taken to impart training on language, works and law of the country to which the workers want 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 two lakh 40 thousand unemployed youths at home.

She also mentioned creation of self employments through distribution of collateral-free loans, national service guarantee scheme, information service activities in the rural areas, one house one farm project and expansion of vocational education.

The Prime Minister also described her government's impressive successes on socioeconomic front including agriculture, education, health, economy, electricity, saying that her government has been striving to build Bangladesh as a dignified nation.

"The people of Bangladesh might be somewhat poor but they want to live with dignity keeping heads high before the world community...the victorious Bangalee nation would never beg kindness of others," she said.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol