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Baira demands Tk500cr fund to rehabilitate jobless returnees

Star Business Report
Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) has demanded that the government earmark a Tk 500 crorc fund for the rehabilitation of the migrant workers returning home jobless much before their job contract expires.
At a post-budget press conference in Dhaka yesterday. the overseas jobs trade body leaders
expressed frustration over the absence of any budgetary directives for such jobless people.
They said the new budget for the fiscal year 2009-10 neglected the overseas employment sector, the highest remittance earner.
Pointing to a significant decline in jobs abroad, Baira. President Ghulam Mustafa said the government has laid bare no plan to rehabilitate the job losers.
"The finance minister proudly informed the parlia-
ment that foreign currency' reserve crossed S7 billion on June 15, 2009, but he forgot to appreciate the contribution of those to the major share of this reserve,” he said.
Mustafa also blasted the proposed imposition of VAT
on recruiting agents, which will raise the cost of migration putting the pain ultimately on the overseas jobseekers. “We demand withdrawal ofVAT on us," he said.
During January 1-May 30 last year, 3,78,994 workers
went abroad for jobs, while the figure is only 2,12,332 in the same period this year.
“This frustrating picture appears to be continuing until the year-end,” he said, pointing to the fact that closure or shutdown of industries in many labour- hiring countries left many workers out of employment.
"The cases of those returning after a long time arc different. But those returning before the expiry of job contracts are facing serious consequences,” the Baira chief said, suggesting a government intervention.
"The government has given a several thousand crore taka for export-oriented industries, but how much did it allocate for migrant workers?” he posed a question.
Asked if Baira is doing something to help the returnee job losers, he said, "Recruiting agencies are preparing lists of such returnees, which will be completed in two weeks.”
Agencies cannot do much if many workers return, he added.
Around 65 lakh Bangladeshi expatriates send over $8 billion annually.