There are instances of migrants being cheated and tortured by employers and then deported so better working conditions and safety at residences need to be ensured beforehand, cause of unnatural deaths investigated and preventive measures for such deaths in place, discussants told a report launching yesterday.
The Welfare Association for the Rights of Bangladeshi Emigrants (WARBE) Development Foundation launched the "Bangladesh: Annual Migration Report 2016" at The Daily Star Centre in the capital.
Presenting the report, WARBE Director Jasiya Khatoon said there are success stories along with incidents of migrants being mentally and physically tortured while the risk of being radicalised has emerged in 2016 in the list of challenges.
Sarowat Binte Islam, programme manager of Manusher Jonno Foundation, emphasised focusing on protecting female migrants from torture.
Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) Joint Secretary General Shameen Ahmed said authorities should also see that bilateral agreements are worker-friendly.
The WARBE report, referring to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training's (BMET) data, says remittance earnings decreased by 17 percent from USS 15.27 billion in 2015 to US$ 12.651 billion mainly due to a slump in global oil prices.
Remittance from the US, the third largest source, declined by 35 percent, it says.
It adds that 714,655 Bangladeshis migrated in 2016 while 555,881 in 2015 and that female overseas employment increased by 4.8 percent.
It recommended ensuring a migrantfriendly process for filing complaints at domestic level while working more actively with international bodies like International Labour Organization and International Trade Union Organisations.
Ruling Awami League lawmaker Mahjabeen Khaled, also a foreign affairs parliamentary standing committee member, said the government was working on forming a parliamentary caucus to address issues of migrants.
BMET Director General Selim Reza said use of proper migration channels left no scope for anyone to be cheated.