Labour Attaché training

Transcription

1 Labour Attaché training WORKSHOP REPORT Prepared By

2 1. BACKGROUND While migration brings employment opportunities and much-needed cash to families and communities, it remains a risky undertaking to many especially those who receive little education or training. The welfare and the protection of migrant workers remains a challenge for many countries of origin of workers including Bangladesh. Many aspirant migrants fall pray to human trafficking rings who will trade workers to third clients in destination countries. In the effort to maximize the most visible benefit of migration, workers remittance as well as to enhance protection for migrant workers, the role of Labour Attachés cannot be overemphasized. IOM in collaboration with the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment organized a three-day training workshop from 23 to 25 March 2008 for Bangladeshi Labour Attachés with the aim of enhancing government capacity and cooperation efforts to protect migrant workers and optimise the benefits of managed Labour migration. 1 The workshop was funded by DFID through its Remittances and Payments Parnership (RPP) project and USAID through its Counter-Trafficking Initiative (CTI) programme. A total of twelve Labour Attachés (LAs) stationed in ten destination countries participated at the workshop, held in Dhaka. These Labour Attachés are GoB officials posted abroad who have the role to assist the migrant workers in a wide range of matters as well as to promote employment of Bangladeshi citizens abroad. LAs are instrumental in assisting in the improvement of the welfare of the migrant workers and in promoting sound channels for remittances. The three-day training workshop was organised with the following objectives: To further enhance understanding of international migration and related topics (overseas employment, human trafficking/smuggling, and remittances). To share experience among Labour Attachés on overseas employment administration and service provision. To review and revisit the roles and functions of Labour Attachés. To identify key challenges and priority actions for Labour Attachés. To create a rapport between the relevant government bodies, civil societies (researchers, academicians, recruiting agencies) and international bodies with the respective Labour Attachés to enhance and strengthen the exchange of cooperation between these bodies. The outcome of the workshop included: Review and update of the Labour Attaché ToR. Mission-specific Action Plans to be implemented by Labour Attachés. 1 In order to help enhance the development impact of remittances, the United Kingdom Government through the Department for International Development, Bangladesh (DFIDB) has developed an initiative titled Remittance and Payments Partnership (RPP) Project. Under the overall objective of promoting pro-poor economic growth in order to increase income and employment for the poor, this project purposes to help improve access to remittance transfer services and to reduce the costs of remitting money to Bangladesh. Labour Attaché training workshop report 01

3 4.2 Summary of Recommendation Through the detailed presentations fruitful discussions, the LAs and the resource persons were able to share their experiences as well as provide beneficial recommendations to each other. Discussions over the three days yielded many important concerns regarding existing mechanisms as well as suggestions for strengthening efforts to address the issue of safe and orderly migration from Bangladesh. Primarily, the issues raised were: Additional resources in terms of manpower as well as finances should be allocated for the Labour Attachés. The BMET database and IT infrastructure to network BMET with DEMOs and recruitment agencies should be established. Existing DEMO offices must be strengthened and improved to provide assistance and information to migrants (potential and current), migrant workers and their families as far as possible. Along with the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs is also perceived as an important player in LA s work and therefore, inter ministry (MoHA, MoEWOE, MoFA) coordination is essential. Labour Attaché training workshop report 26

4 The existing LA ToR requires immediate revision to clearly demarcate roles and responsibilities of the LAs. Similar initiatives should be undertaken regularly. This could include a fair during which LAs would present their country of work, the issues they face, and the solutions they found. An inventory of best practices observed by LAs should be undertaken. An internet group discussion among LAs with IOM and BMET as moderators. The internet group discussion could host the best practices inventory elaborated above. BMET should establish a LA s tool kit per country with attached legislation. In order to increase the visibility of Bangladesh s seriousness in tackling migrant workers issues, LAs could increase their interactions with their counterparts from concerned countries (for instance with Italy in Libya, with UAE in Oman) in order to advocate and make visible Bangladesh s efforts to address irregular migration (viz. human smuggling, labour trafficking, trafficking in persons). A market research unit (MRU) must be established within the GoB to identify, gather, analyze and disseminate information on overseas employment opportunities to keep the concerned government bodies, the private employment agencies and the potential migrants informed in a timely manner and enable them to respond positively to such opportunities. Necessary consideration must be made to minimise the number of recruiting agencies and selection made on the basis of the quality of performance, etc. A strict compliance system for the recruiting agencies should be introduced, which will serve as the criteria to acquire and renew licenses. There should be strict compliance of this mechanism. BOESL should be decentralized and expanded to rural networks and be more proactive in terms of linking potential migrant workers to the dynamic foreign labour market. A mechanism needs to be set up to inform abandoned/victimized women workers on how to receive help or counselling from the Labour Attachés. The Expatriates Welfare Fund must be utilized in productive ways to help migrant workers and their families. Suggestions of its use include: (a) repatriation of stranded migrants; (b) engaging legal assistance for workers in the destination countries; (c) opening of welfare centres for the welfare of migrant workers; (d) providing a budget to the missions abroad to assist migrant workers; (e) establish an insurance scheme for migrant workers. Labour Attaché training workshop report 27

5 5. Annexes 5.1: Agenda Day 1: 23rd March 2008 (Sunday) Time 9:00-9:30 9:30-10:00 10:00-10:30 10:30-11:30 11:30-12:15 12:15-13:00 13:00-14:00 14:00-14:25 14:25-14:50 14:50-16:00 16:00-16:15 16:15-17:15 Programme Registration of the Participants Opening Session Welcome address by Ms. Rabab Fatima, Regional Representative for South Asia, IOM Dhaka Statement by Special Guest, Mr. Md. Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Statement by Chief Guest: Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Break Session 1: Introduction and Overview 1-1. Training Objectives 1-2. Introduction of Participants 1-3. Expectations 1-4. Overview of RPP 1-5. Trends and Policy on Labour Migration from Asia Presenter: Aiko Kikkawa, Regional Programme Manager, IOM Dhaka 1-6. Feminization of Migration: Situation of Bangladeshi women workers at the destination countries with special focus on domestic workers Presenter: Dr. Rita Afsar, Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies Lunch Session 2: Role of Labour Attachés in Market Research and Development 2-1. International and National Legal Framework for the Protection of Bangladeshi Migrants Overseas. Presenter: Prof Mizanur Rahman, University of Dhaka 2-2. Protection of Bangladeshi Migrant Workers Overseas: Role of Labour Attaché Presenter: Dr. Nurul Islam, Director, Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training 2-3. Promotional Activities on Overseas Employment Presenter: Ricardo Casco, National Programme Officer, IOM Manila 2-4. Market Research Unit Presenter: Ricardo Casco, National Programme Officer, IOM Manila Break Session 2: Role of Labour Attachés in Market Research and Development (Cont.) 2-5. Experience sharing and Discussion Session 17:15-17:30 Recap of Day 1

6 Day 2: 24th March 2008 (Monday) Time 9:00-9:10 9:10-10:00 10:00-10:45 10:45-11:00 11:00-12:00 12:00-12:45 12:45-13:15 13:15-14:15 14:15-14:45 14:45-15:30 15:30-16:00 16:00-17:15 Programme Recap by Facilitator Session 3 : Human Trafficking and Smuggling 3-1. Issues of Human Trafficking and Human Security Presenter: Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs 3-2. Human Trafficking and GTIP Presenter: Mr. Kapil Gupta, US Embassy, Dhaka Break 3-3. Group Work/Activities on TIPS (on providing service to victims abroad) Facilitator: Mr. Mizanur Rahman, National Programme Officer, IOM Dhaka Session 4: Migration and Remittances: 4-1. Migration and remittances in the context of globalization remittance Dynamics: Impact in the Developing Countries- Bangladesh as a Case Presenter: Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka 4-2. Remittances transfer mechanism: Barriers to increasing remittance flows Presenter: Dr. Jamaluddin Ahmed, Hodavasi Lunch 4-3. The Regulatory Framework and improved remittance products in Bangladesh Presenter: Robert Smith, Challenge Fund Manager, RPP 4-4. Experience Sharing and Discussion Session Break SPECIAL SESSION Theme: Overseas Employment: Prospects and Challenges for Bangladesh Panel Discussion with representatives from government agencies, Civil Society and recruitment Agencies Co-Chairs Ms. Rabab Fatima, Regional Representative, IOM Dhaka, Mr. Md. Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment 17:15-17:30 17:30-18:00 Brief on Individual task on mission action plan and Recap of Day Two Refreshment

7 Day 3: 25th March 2008 (Tuesday) Time 9:00-9:10 9:10-9:35 9:35-10:00 10:00-10:30 10:30-10:45 10:45-11:45 11:45-12:45 12:45-13:15 13:15-14:15 14:15-15:00 Programme Recap by the Facilitator Session 5: Roles and Functions of Labour Attachés 5-1 What role the Labour Attaché can play? Presentation: Mr. Mansur Reza Choudhury, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment 5-2 Support Mechanism for Labour Attachés Presenter: Mr. Ruhul Quddus, Deputy Secretary Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment 5-3 Group Work: Revisiting the TOR of Labour Attaché- Identification of priority Break Session 5: Roles and Functions of Labour Attachés (Cont.): 5-4 Group Work: Drafting of mission action plans based on priorities and TOR identified 5-5 Sharing of Mission Action plans Summary of the workshop and discussion Lunch Closing Session Summary Presentation by the Facilitator Statement by Ms. Rabab Fatima, Regional Representative for South Asia, IOM Dhaka Statements by Guests of Honour: Mr. Md. Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Mr. Md. Touhid Hossain, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Presentation of Certificates 15:00-15:30 Refreshment

8 5.2 List of Participants Date: 23 March 08 Venue: Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel 5.2.1: Inaugural Session Sr. No. Name of the participant Designation Organization 1. A.B.M. Rashedul Hassan SMC, BIM & Member Task force Task Force, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment 2. Akber Hossain, Tripoli, Libya 3. C R Abrar Executive Director RMMRU 4. Disha Sonata Faruque Project Coordinator IOM Dhaka 5. Faruque Hossain Sr. Reporter Channel-i 6. Ghulam Mustafa Managing Director Prantik Travels & Tourism Ltd. 7. H. H. Siddique Director TMSS 8. Habiba Akter Human Rights and Rule of DG-ED Office Law Advisor USAID/Bangladesh 9. Hosne Ara Ahmed Coordinator Kazi Golam Mostafa Reporter Channel-i Kilmeney Beckering Vinckers Deputy Head of Mission Australian High Commission M. M. Rahman Consultant IOM Dhaka Mahbubur Rahman Managing Director BOESL Mamun Neysar Reporter Manab Zamin Md. Abdul Malek Director General BMET Md. Kaisarul Islam Counselor, Jeddah Md. Mansur Reza Chaudhury Joint Secretary MoEWOE, GoB Md. Moniruzzaman Howlader Counselor, Abu Dhabi Md. Nasrullah Reporter DTV Md. Nurul Islam Director BMET Md. Omar Faruque Senior Assistant Secretary MoEWOE, GoB Md. Selim Reza Director BMET Md. Shafiq Amin Deputy Secretary MoEWOE, GoB Md. Shahabuddin Program Assistant ILO Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Kuwait Minhaz Anwar Communications Advisor DFID Mizanur Rahman National Programme Officer IOM Dhaka Mohhammad Maqsudur Rahman, Qatar Muhammad Ibrahim, Bahrain Muhammad Ruhul Quddus Deputy Secretary MoEWOE, GoB Nasirudden Reporter Channel-1 In alphabetical order

9 5.2.1:Inaugural Session(cont...) Sr. No Name of the participant Designation Organization Nasreen Jahan Consulate of Bangladesh, Dubai Nurul Alam Badal Photographer Press Information Department (PID) Ministry of Information 34. Omar Faruque Execututive Director OKUP 35. Rabiul Haque Journalist Daily Jaijaidin 36. Raheed Ejaj Journalist New Age 37. Rezwanul Karim Program Manager Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) 38. Ricardo R. Caasco National Programme Officer IOM Manila 39. Richard Boulter Private Sector Advisor DFID 40. Rina Sen Gupta Policy Analyst PLAGEІІ Robert Smith Challenge Fund Manager Remittance Payment Challenge Fund (RPCF) Rumana Akhter Saifi Assistant Scientist Health System Economics Unit, ICDDRB S. M. Ferdous Counselor, Oman S. M. Haroon-or-Rashid Counselor, Riyadh, KSA S. M. Tofazzel Hossain Coordinator Safe Migration Facilitation Centre, BRAC S.K. Rumana General Secretary BOMSA Salahuddin Mahmud Senior Reporter Channel-1 Salma Ali Executive Director Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) Samiha Huda National Programme Officer IOM Dhaka Sarowat Binte Islam Program Manager Manusher Jonno Foundation Selim Bashar Reporter Radio Today Shakil Bin Azad Assistant Director TMSS Shakirul Islam Program Director OKUP Shamim Ahamed Journalist Naya Digonta Shammi Firoz President Task Force, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Stephen Hiley Project Coordinator RMMRU Sukumar Debray Coordinator CCDA Summaiya Islam Project Director BOMSA Syed Nasir Ershad, Seoul, Korea Syed Saiful Haque Chairman WARBE Development Foundation Talat Mahmud Khan Counselor Bangladesh High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Uttam Kumar Das National Programme Officer IOM Dhaka Vianney Labé Facilitator IOM Dhaka Yasmin Sultana Counselor, Singapore Yeakub Ali PRO to Foreign Advisor MoFA, GoB Zakia Hassan National Programme Officer IOM Dhaka

10 Date: March 08 Venue: Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel List of Labour Attachés Sr. No Name of the participant Akber Hossain Major S. M. Ferdous Md. Kaisarul Islam Md. Moniruzzaman Howlader Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky Mohhammad Maqsudur Rahman Muhammad Ibrahim Nasreen Jahan S. M. Haroon-or-Rashid Syed Nasir Ershad Talat Mahmud Khan Yasmin Sultana Designation Counselor Counselor Counselor Counselor Counselor Counselor Location Tripoli, Libya Muscat, Oman Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abu Dhabi, UAE Kuwait City, Kuwait Doha, Qatar Manama, Bahrain Dubai, UAE Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Seoul, Korea Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Singapore City, Singapore Organization Consulate of Bangladesh Bangladesh High Commission

11 5.2.3 Special Session Date: 23 March 08 Venue: Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel Sr. No Name of the participant A.B.M. Rashedul Hassan Abdul Alim Adnan Sirajee Akber Hossain Disha Sonata Faruque Ghulam Mustafa Mahbubur Rahman Md. Abdul Malek Md. Kaisarul Islam Md. Moniruzzaman Md. Omar Faruque Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Ruhul Quddus Naheed Ahmed Nasreen Jahan Rita Afsar S. M. Ferdous S. M. Haroon-or-Rashid Samiha Huda Shakirul Islam Shammi Firoz Designation SMC, BIM & Member Task force Proprietor Intern Project Coordinator Managing Director Managing Director Director General Counselor Counselor Senior Assistant Secretary Deputy Secretary National Program Manager Senior Research Fellow Counselor Counselor National programme officer Chief Executive President Organization Task Force, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment S. A. Trading IOM Dhaka, Tripoli, Libya IOM Dhaka Prantik Travels & Tourism Ltd. BOESL BMET, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi MoEWOE, GoB, Kuwait, Bahrain MoEWOE, GoB UNIFEM Bangladesh Consulate of Bangladesh, Dubai BIDS, Oman, Riyadh, KSA IOM Dhaka OKUP Task Force, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Summaiya Islam Syed Nasir Ershad Syed Saiful Haque Talat Mahmud Khan Project Director, Chairman Counselor BOMSA, Seoul, Korea WARBE Development Foundation Bangladesh High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Umbreen Kuddus Yasmin Sultana Program Support Manager Counselor GTZ, Singapore

12 Labour Attaché training WORKSHOP REPORT Cover Photo: Masuma Pia/Matri. Page: 2,3, 10, 23 & 25: Sujan/map. Page:7 & 18/IOM.