Porimol Palma

Bangladesh wants labour-receiving countries to ensure that Bangladeshi migrants who lose their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic get at least six months’ salary.

Authorities also want the migrants not to return home during this pandemic unless they are in dire straits because, as Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said, “Good days will surely come back soon.

“We have instructed all our missions concerned to look after the safety of our people. First priority is to make sure they have food and healthcare,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.

“We have also instructed them to make diplomatic efforts to ensure that our people are not unduly terminated. If there is no alternative, we need to make sure that they get at least six months’ salary.”

Momen said Bangladesh, in a virtual meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference Executive Committee on April 22, proposed creation of a Covid-19 pandemic recovery and response fund at OIC level to help the migrants.

“Migrants are part of development of us all -- both sending and receiving countries. If their jobs are suddenly terminated and they are sent home, they will be in trouble. We must address the issue globally. Migrant-receiving countries cannot avoid responsibility,” he said.

Bangladesh raised the issue at a time when some of the labour-receiving countries, mostly Middle Eastern ones, are putting pressure on labour-sending countries, mostly in South Asia, to repatriate migrants whose jobs have been terminated in the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.

For example, the United Arab Emirates said it would review labour relations with countries that do not repatriate jobless migrants terminated by the private sector due to the pandemic.