No option but to enhance skills of migrant workers
27 December 2022
Bangladesh is
earning less remittance considering its potential as unskilled workers
dominate its overseas job market. The country makes fewer remittances
from millions of workforces as most of them are semi-skilled or
unskilled than their Asian counterparts. But there is a huge demand for
Bangladeshi skilled and trained labourers abroad. World Bank data showed
Bangladesh earned $22.1 billion in 2021 while the less populated Egypt
earned $27.76 billion and the other less populated Philippines earned
$31.4 billion in the same year. The International Organisation for
Migration report in 2020 also found that high-skilled workers remit more
money than low-skilled workers.
It is to be noted that Bangladesh
sends several lakhs of workers every year to different countries in
order to earn foreign currency to boost the national economy by
providing manpower to those who have shortages. As per the data, the
contribution of remittances to economic development accounts for 12 per
cent of total GDP, and Bangladesh is the eighth largest
remittance-receiving country. There is a huge demand for skilled and
well-trained labour in countries in Europe, Asia and other territories.
The unskilled Bangladeshi migrant workers are not able to find the
desired jobs. Moreover, they are subjected to various abuses and
exploitation. More skills and training preparation can help them boost
their confidence and give them the courage to fight against any human
rights violations and abuses.
It is also concerning that Bangladeshis
have the potential to find jobs in over 150 countries in several
hundred trades; the country has sent over 87 per cent of workers, mostly
unskilled, to only several Middle Eastern countries. The country fails
to send well-trained workers as per the demands of different host
countries. There are about 72 technical training (TTC) centres including
six Institute of Marine Technology across the country. But most of the
training centres are suffering from shortages of instructors as dozens
of cases about disputes of appointment of the teachers are in courts.
Educationists
for many decades have been asking to emphasise on technical education
but much importance is not paid there rather general education is
boosted and promoted.
