A NATIONAL daily said that twelve of the 20 labour attachés failed to join Bangladesh Missions in Brunei, Male, Hong Kong, South Africa, Canberra, Athens, Madrid, Geneva, Moscow, Milan, Bangkok and Cairo due to the lack of proper inter-ministerial coordination. That has resulted in a decrease of manpower exports from Bangladesh. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said inter-state diplomatic processes are on to obtain permission for their joining from the host countries – Brunei, Male, Hong Kong, South Africa, Canberra and Athens – as securing permission is a prerequisite to appoint the attachés. We advise the Ministries concerned to appoint necessary people to expand labour markets and protect our remitters from untoward situations abroad.
The Manual for Labour Attachés outlines the job of the attachés is to endeavour to promote employment of manpower, ensure the welfare of Bangladeshi nationals and extend financial assistance to the distressed workers. And considering the duties of an attaché and the number of labourers, Foreign Ministry said there is no ‘reasonable cause’ for posting labour attachés to Madrid, Geneva, Moscow, Milan and Bangkok. The expatriates’ welfare ministry secretary said the Prime Minister’s Office on July 10 agreed to post the new labour attachés at Bangladesh Missions, but the Foreign Ministry later raised objections hampering government’s efforts to create new labour markets.
The Ministry also said that the labour attachés were appointed on May this year after creating posts with approval of all ministries concerned, but the Foreign Ministry raised objections to the appointment after completion of the appointment process. Expatriates welfare secretary said that the government decided to open 12 new labour wings considering all positive aspects, while the joining of new labour attachés was being delayed due to non-cooperation of the Foreign Ministry.
Bangladeshi workers after arrival in their work destination countries are often confronted by several problems, including, withholding of payment, under payment or delayed payment of wages, poor working and living conditions, physical harassment, seizure of passport and travel documents, unlawful and arbitrary termination which results in labourers being stranded with no job. The labour attachés are supposed to address these problems, according to the manual. At the initial stage labour attachés try to settle the problems in consultation with the employer and worker together. If no amicable settlement takes place, the worker needs to proceed to the Labour Court.
A Foreign Ministry Director General said that after completion of the process the officials would join the missions. Bangladesh has expanded labour wings from 16 to 28 in some 25 countries, according to information. The Foreign Ministry high-ups need to realise that the appointment of the new labour attachés has been made after creating posts and getting approval of all ministries concerned. In fact, the government should address the lack of cooperation between the ministries to expand labour markets and to protect the rights of Bangladeshi expatriates in the countries as they, in the truest sense, sustain our economy by sending their hard-earned incomes.
