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The plight of returnee migrant workers

Setting up database and rehabilitation imperative
THE loss of jobs which Bangladeshi workers have recently faced abroad against a back-drop of global recession is not only a matter of concern to the victims but to the country as well. The pain comes from the fact that these poor Bangladeshi migrant workers have been making their way back home in heart-rending circumstances. And once home, they have found themselves in graver difficulties because of all the loans and the interest on those loans they have to pay back. With not a dime in hand, the future for these workers seems bleak.
It is on such an issue that concrete action is now called for. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has suggested that a database be developed in order for die authorities to keep track of migrant workers who leave as well as return to the country. Obviously, the purpose will simply not be a record of the figures for such workers but for a system to be developed regarding their rehabilitation. In these days of modern, sophisticated technology, setting up such a database of Bangladeshi workers ought not to be an arduous task. And yet the reported response of the Expatriates' Welfare ministry to the IOM proposal has been rather disappointing. A ministry official has simply noted that creating a database is not possible now because the immigration police have said so. That is indefensible, having regard to the fact that immigration personnel at the airport have access to details of all departures and arrivals as maintained through computerization. Besides, it should be easy for the authorities to keep tabs on migrant workers especially because those proceeding abroad do so legally through authorized channels. If the record of workers going abroad or returning home has not been maintained by these channels, it is a sign surely of bad management.
Be that as it may, it is now time for positive action to be taken regarding the movement of our workers from and to the country. This streamlining can be done in quite a few ways. Firstly, the workers' details can be recorded at the airport when they leave and also when they come back. Secondly, their plight, if they are sacked by their firms abroad, can be taken up with the host governments as a way of compensating them for the loss of their jobs. Finally, a clear policy on insurance cover, as a means of helping them recover their financial losses, should be made an integral part of dealings between the recruiting companies abroad and their representatives at home. Meanwhile, our embassies and high commissions must be reactivated insofar as keeping updated information on the migrant workers is concerned. Their labour wings must go for systematic and periodic trend analyses where demand for and supply of migrant workers is concerned.
Invasive polybags all around
Steps against violators of law long overdue
DESPITE a ban on the manufacturing and use of polythene bags, unscrupulous traders have been marketing substantial quantities of the banned items openly violating the law. The influx of polythene shopping bags in the recent years makes one wonder whether the traders enjoyed some kind of protection from certain quarters in the environmental administration as well as law enforcing agencies. The ban was imposed in 2002 to save our environment from the onslaught of the non-biodegradable material that found their way to city drains and storm sewers, thereby blocking normal flow of waste water. Polybags have also clogged river and canal beds, threatening normal breeding of life forms in water.
We recall that the awareness raising drive that came with the ban had worked well with people spontaneously switching over to shopping bags made of biodegradable materials, like paper, jute etc. But, once the initial hullabaloo had died down, manufacturers of polybags came back with renewed vigour to carry on with their business.
It is disconcerting that a good number of manufacturers of jute and paper shopping bags are facing steep competition from the traders of illegal polybags, as there is no government agency in the field to clamp down on the violators. There is no denying that already a lot of damage has been done to our environment, hence the message should go loud and clear to the polythene traders that the government means business this time and that no one will be spared for damaging the environment. At the same time, relevant government agencies and financing organisations should encourage cottage industry and laid-off jute mills to produce environmentfriendly shopping bags. It is noteworthy that the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation has launched a drive to make jute bags popular in the country.
It is time all stakeholders became fully aware of the severe impact of polythene on health and environment and acted concertedly to end the menace. The people in general would opt for biodegradable shopping bags once these were made available abundantly and at affordable prices. Hence, the onus rests on the government to ensure that such alternatives are made available to the people. We believe, it would take good measure of inter-ministerial cooperation and coordination to reach the environmental objective.