MigrationandtheachievementofSDGsforBangladeshIntroductionBangladeshisincreasinglyintegratedwithglobaleconomyintermsoftrade,investment,flowofremittances. Bangladesh is one of the major labor-sending countries of the world. The one-fourthof theworkingagepopulationwhoentersBangladesh’s labormarketeachyear, traveloverseas as migrant workers, and hence it eases the workers pressure on the domesticeconomy. Internationalmigration alsobrings remittanceswhich contributepositively tobothmicro-levelhouseholdlevelwell-beingbyraisingincome,consumption,savingandinvestment,andmacro-level stability by stimulating rural farm and non-farm economic activities and byhelpingtomaintainhealthyexternalbalance.Bangladeshisthe9thhighestremittancereceivingcountryintheworld.RemittanceinflowstoBangladeshhavereachedUSD12.8blninFY2016-17anincreaseof20timesoverperiodoftwoandahalfdecadeswiththehighestmarkofUSD15.3blninFY2014-15.Totalremittedamountwasequivalentto5.9%ofBangladesh’sGNIin2016.1

MigrationandSDGsSustainabledevelopmentGoalsdoesclearlyrefertomigration,andrecognizesitscrosscuttingdevelopment impact and economic value.Migrantworkers are specially related to SDG 8 oneconomic growth and decentwork; issues of trafficking noted as part of SDG 16 on peacefulsocieties;SDG10callsforareductioninthetransactioncostsofremittances;andmigrantstatusisstated inSDG17asa factor fordisaggregationduringreviewand followup.Finally,Target10.7 – the cornerstone of migration in the 2030 Agenda – calls for the facilitation of ‘safe,regularandresponsiblemigration’andtheimplementationof‘well-managedmigrationpolicies.However,Migration isnotadevelopment ‘problem’ tobesolved(as is the focusofSDG10.7),butamechanismthatcancontributetotheachievementofmanyoftheGoalsasitislinkedtothe 13 of the 17 SDGs in different way. Labor migration can reduce poverty for migrantsthemselves, their families, and their origin and host countries. Migrants and their familiesbenefit from augmented income and knowledge, which allows them to spendmore on basicneeds,accesseducationandhealthservices,andmakeinvestmentswhichclearlyimpactsSDG1, SDG 3 and SDG 4. For female migrants, increased economic resources can improve theirautonomyand socioeconomic status, impactingSDG5.Migration can lead to increasedwagesand greater economic growth in origin countries through higher incomes, spending andinvestmentofmigranthouseholds.Inhostcountries,migrantscanfilllaborgapsandcontributetoservicesandthefiscalbalance,impactingonSDG1,SDG8andSDG9.Therefore,ithasbeenrecommended that if countries are to achieve the SDGs, they need to consider the impact ofmigrationatalllevelsandonalloutcomes,beyondthemigration-specificTargets.2ChallengesforMigrationinthecontextofBangladesh

1 Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Challenges for Migration in light of the SDGs: Context of Bangladesh, KeynotepresentationintheDialogueorganizedbyCitizen’sPlatformforSDGs,BangladeshandBRACon6thMay2018.2 Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, 2017. Migration and 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopments,London:OverseasDevelopmentInstitute,.

Despitetheboomingprospectsofmigrationinthecontextofglobalizationandtheimportanceof it in respect toachieveSDGsgoals,Bangladesh iswell strickenwithdifferent complexities.TheMinistryofExpatriates’WelfareandOverseasEmployment(MEWOE)anditsagenciesthatisresponsibleformaintainingsafemigrationandsafeguardingrightsandinterestofmigrants,lack sufficient budget and human resources. Allocation for MEWOE in yearly budget hasremainedratherinsignificantandunchangedasitisobservedintheFY18thattotalallocationforMEWOEis0.18%ofthetotalbudgetonly.3Theprocessofmigrationhasbecomeextremelycomplexovertheyears.Theprocurementofaworkvisa,therecruitmentoftheworkerandreceiptofemigrationclearance-thekeystepsinprocessingmigrationarefullofirregularitiesandcorruption.Duetolackofeducationandpooraccesstoinformation,manypeoplearenotawareofgovernmentmigrationprocess,rulesandregulations.Theyareunabletofindoutrealmanpowerrecruitingagencyanddonotknowtheexact migration cost. They even do not know that migration may be possible throughgovernment and about financing from Probashi Kallan Bank. The desperation to rise out ofpovertyleadmanypeopletoresorttoinformalevenillegalchanneltomigrateandoftencreatevictim to fraudulentmiddlemen and exploitative employers, leading to loss of their life timesavingsandassets;harassment;abuseandimprisonment. IOM(2010)foundthatnearlythreetimes higher than the official maximum fees was charged by informal sources.4AveragemigrationcostistheTk.219,394whereasthegovernmentlegalmaximumchargeformigrationtotheMiddleWestisTk.84000.5Variousintermediaries(andotheragents)accountedforlion’sshare - about 76%of the total costs. Low-skilledmigrants, in general, paymore in terms ofplacementfeesrelativetotheirexpectedincomeandit isundeniablefactthatBangladeshisamajor supplier of predominantly low skilled/unskilledworkers as 46.2% of total stockwerelowskilled/unskilled–mostly concentrated in thegulf countries. Sevenoutof eightmigrantsdid not receive any training prior to their departure to host countries (87% of the total).Educational attainment of thesemigrant workers remains fairly low as statistics shows that86.3%of theBangladeshimigrantshaveonly secondaryor lower levelsof formal education.6Duetobeinglesseducatedandsemi/low-skilled,mostofBangladeshimigrantworkersingulfcountries are been exploited, face severe discrimination in terms ofwage,working hour andtreatment.Inmanycasesmigrants’passportsaretakenawayfromthemwithoutdocumentingtheiremploymentconditionsandcompelledthemintolowwageandlessdignifiedjobs.Manymigrantsneed toworkhardeven in the scorchingheatof45 to50degreeCelsiusandhencecannotsleepatnightdue toshabbyandpooraccommodation.Despite theirunbearableworkand longworkinghour, they arepaid less than the local counterpart and inmany case othermigrantworkers.Inaddition,aconsiderablenumberofworkersdonotreceivetheirwagesonaregular basis and freedom tomove fromone job to another is restricted for both skilled andunskilled workers.7 IOM (2010) shows that per capita remittance is significantly low forBangladeshimigrantscomparedtoothercountriesoftheregion.Whilepercapitaremittanceof

3 Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Challenges for Migration in light of the SDGs: Context of Bangladesh, KeynotepresentationintheDialogueorganizedbyCitizen’sPlatformforSDGs,BangladeshandBRACon6thMay2018.4Ibid5WorldBank,2012,BangladeshDevelopmentReport,Vol.2.6 Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Challenges for Migration in light of the SDGs: Context of Bangladesh, KeynotepresentationintheDialogueorganizedbyCitizen’sPlatformforSDGs,BangladeshandBRACon6thMay20187 Tasneem Siddiqui, 2005. International Labor Migration from Bangladesh: A decent work perspective, PolicyIntegrationDepartment,NationalPolicyGroup,InternationallaborOffice,WorkingpaperNo.66,Geneva

a migrant worker from India, china and Philippines is USD 4843, USD 6112 and USD 4982respectively,aBangladeshimigrantworker’sremittanceamountsonlyUSD1672.8Due to the language problem, migrant workers in abroad suffer in service receiving andtransactionsandeven inworkplaceandcourt.Situationof femaleworkers in thedestinationcountiesisworstthantheirmalecountrymen.Althoughfemalemigrationtooverseascountries,especiallyGCCcountrieshasincreasedandnowaccounted3.8%ofBangladeshi’stotaloverseaslabor force, the stories of inhuman treatment of many female returnees have shattered thetrend. Many of them are returning destitute and despaired along with their experience ofworking like slaves forunlimitedhourswithout leave, rest, recreation, andeven faced sexualharassment and rape. The sufferings of migrant workers aggravate with the risks of workrelated injuries,poorworkerwelfareand insufficient legalsafeguards.Recently theunnaturalor premature death of Bangladeshi migrants baffled many people about the human securityconditionofmigrants.Arenowneddailynewspaperreportedthatinthelastsixyears13,827bodiesofdeceasedmigrantswere sent toBangladesh, averagingaround2,300peryear9.Themigrantworkershavenoaccesstocourtiftheyaredeprivedofthelegalpayorforanyinhumanorillegalactivatesdonebytheemployers.ThemigrantsworkedinMiddleEasterncountriesaretheworstsuffersinthesecasesbecausenoGCCcountrieshaveratifiedorfollowInternationalHumanRights or other global commitments for social protection ofmigrantworkers such asILOconventions. SuccessiveBangladeshgovernmentshave failed to signbilateralagreementswith the receiving countries relating to itsworkers safety and security abroad.10 Bangladeshalso does not have any comprehensive policy for social security and protection of migrantworkersandthereisnodedicatedcomponentinNSSStargetingmigrants.11Bangladeshimigrantsalsofaceremittancesendingandinvestmentchallengesbesidestheirpre-migrationharassmentandpostmigrationhardship.Bangladesh isyetcreatecheapestwayofsending remittance from abroad while Banks takes lengthy time and post offices areinstitutionallyincapacitatedtohandletheremittancetransfer.Migrantsoftenresorttoinformalchanneltosendtheirmoneyhome.BBS2016studyshowsthatabout50%ofRRHHsonlyarereported to receive remittances through bank accounts in Bangladesh. Due to the lack ofinstitutionalarrangementswithdiversifiedhostcountriesofBangladeshimigrants,itisgettingmorechallengingtosendmoney,throughaformalchannel,fromnewhostcountries.Thepropensity to save/investamongBangladeshi remitters’households isnotnegligible,butsavings is not significant. BBS 2016 data suggest thatwhile about 40% remittance receivinghouseholds tend to save, their average amount of savings was only 8% of total remittanceincome and from there only a small portion of remittance is invested in a production sector.Only25%oftotalremittanceincomewenttoinvestment(BBS2016).ThreeinvestmentschemenamelyWEDB,UPB,UIBarenotmuchpopularamongthemigrantsorreturneesdespitethese

8 Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Challenges for Migration in light of the SDGs: Context of Bangladesh, KeynotepresentationintheDialogueorganizedbyCitizen’sPlatformforSDGs,BangladeshandBRACon6thMay2018.9ThedailyProthomAlo,10February201410 Tasneem Siddiqui, 2005. International Labor Migration from Bangladesh: A decent work perspective, PolicyIntegrationDepartment,NationalPolicyGroup,InternationallaborOffice,WorkingpaperNo.66,Geneva11 Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Challenges for Migration in light of the SDGs: Context of Bangladesh, KeynotepresentationintheDialogueorganizedbyCitizen’sPlatformforSDGs,BangladeshandBRACon6thMay2018

schemes are free of income tax. Many do not invest their earnings fearing the politicalinstability,lackofsecurityandsafetyoftheirinvestmentinBangladesh.12

WayForward

Bangladesh’ssuccessinattainingtheMDGshasbeenwellappreciatedbytheglobalcommunity.Bangladesh has firm commitment to set itself as an example of a leading SDG achiever. IfBangladeshistorecordsimilarsuccessinachievingtheSDGs,appropriateactionswillneedtobetakentoaddresstheconcernsandtheinterestrelatedtoPre,duringandpostmigration.Inan effort to reduce fraudulent practices experiencedbymigrants beforedeparture, there is aneed tocreateanemploymentexchangebureau toregulate thedalalsystemand toput themunder punishment for harassing outbound workers. Migration help desk need to be set toprovidenecessaryinformationtooutgoingworkers.Arbitrationservicescanbecreatedtosettledownconflictandfraudulence.Toencouragelabormigrationandaccesstoemployment,costsrelatedtomigrationprocessingneedtobereducedthroughvariousgovernmentinitiativessuchas access to credit on low interest should also be created. However, before embarking oncontract migration, migrant workers should receive pre-departure orientation training. Thisshould include the dissemination of information about the destination country, general jobconditions, and the rights and duties ofmigrantworkers both under the legal regime of thecountry concerned and under international law. Moreover, Information regarding safemigrationshouldbedisseminatedthroughthemassmediaaswellasthroughinterventionsatthegrassrootslevel.Social protection ofmigrantworkers needs to be enhanced through adoption of appropriatepolicymeasuresbothathomecountryandalso inhostcountry.Thereareanumberofglobalgood practices, for example- overseas migrants group insurance, pension savings, old-age,disabilityanddeathbenefits, emergencyhospitalizationandwelfare fund inmissionsabroad,schemesfordomesticandunskilledworkers,employmentcontractviolationcompensationandmaternitybenefits.Bangladeshshouldintroducetheseinitiativesforensuringsocialsecurityofmigrant workers. Bangladesh embassy/high commission needs to engage more actively intermsof diplomacy toprotect rights ofBangladeshimigrants. Theyoften shownaked apathyinsteadofcordialempathytotheconcernsofthemigrantworkers.Therefore,theroleofforeignmissions in the labor-receiving countries should be redefined. Protection of the rights ofmigrant workers should be considered a priority concern. The government should considerestablishing a migrant workers’ resource centre (MWRC) in each of the major receivingcountrieswithin the premises of andunder the administrative jurisdiction of theBangladeshmissions. The Bangladesh missions should inform the authorities of the receiving countriesabout themigrantworker’sdifficulties suchas fraudulence, exploitation, harassment, torture,etc by employer so that the later take appropriate measure to ensure security of migrantworkers’ rights. The government of Bangladesh should also negotiate with the receivingcountries to simplify theprocedure for receivingbenefits thatoften falldueat theendof thecontractperiod,sothatthemigrantcancollecttheamountwellbeforehis/herdeparture.Thisissueneedstobepursuedinliaisonwithotherlabour-sendingcountries.13

12Ibid13Tasneem Siddiqui, 2005. International Labor Migration from Bangladesh: A decent work perspective, PolicyIntegrationDepartment,NationalPolicyGroup,InternationallaborOffice,WorkingpaperNo.66,Geneva

InordertocreatedemandforBangladeshimigrantworkersandtoraiseaverageremittancepermigrant workers, undertaking skill enhancement programmes is an utmost necessity. Manylabour-receiving countries have projections and plans for future development projects andconcomitant labour needs. These projections need to be analyzed systematically, so thatBangladeshiworkerscanbetrainedtomeetfutureoverseasdemandandmarket.Therefore,theexisting training institutes of the BMET should be upgraded in order to help increase skilledmigration. The BMET also needs to extend its training outreach through joint ventures withnon-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private training institutes. Vocational trainingshouldbeincorporatedintomainstreamprimaryandsecondaryschoolcurriculaandtextbooksshould include chapters onmigration. In order to improve communication skills, training orshortcourseonthelanguageofdestinationcountriesisnecessary.Moreover,Englishshouldbeintroducedasasecondlanguagefromthefirstgrade.14

Bangladeshalsoneedstodevelopsmoothandquickremittancereturnsystemwiththegreateravailabilityoffinancialtoolsandoptionssothatmigrantworkermostlyuseformalchanneltosend theirmoney.Number of subsidiary banks overseas need to be increased. Postal serviceneed to be developed and digitalized so that this can work as money transfer mechanism.Moreover,cardbasedormobilebasedmoneytransfertoolneedtobedevelopedandformalizedso that government can have more control and more revenue. In order to better use ofremittances, innovative savings and investment opportunities needs to be developed. Globalgoodpracticedinstrumentsforfinancialinclusionandinvestmentsuchas-hostcountryspecificfinancialeducation,divergerangeofsavingsinstrumentsi.eDiasporabond,savingsbond,hostcountrybasedpensionscheme,housingloanetc.canbeintroduced.Toencourageinvestmentinproduction sectors,business friendlyenvironment i.e separateEEZ formigrantworker, alongwithsafetyandsecurityoftheinvestmentneedtobeensured.15

Inordertoaddressproperreintegrationofthereturneemigrants,databaseneedstobesetupbyBMETwherereturneemigrantswillregisterandcomeunderspecialeconomicprogrammeswhichwillbeofferedbydifferentNGOsandprivatesectors.Theseoffersmay includehelpingreturneemigrants to gain access to: the formalbanking sector; credit agencies for soft loans;landallotmentonmoderateterms;insuranceschemes;andaccesstoschemesorganizedundertheWageEarners’WelfareFund.However,theexistingWelfareFundneedtomoretransparentbyensuringofmigrantworkersandthecivilsocietyrepresentative.16

Inorder to accelerate achievementof SDGswithmigration, government should identify therelationbetweenmigrationandotherSDGstargets.Thegovernmentshouldcommitadequateresources to the migration sector. It needs to partner with civil society organisations toformulate a comprehensivemigration policy and to realise the targets set in the 7FYP andPerspective Plans, Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Migrants Act 2013, NSDS, NSSS.Finally, government of Bangladesh must recognize that migrants may be a particularlyvulnerable groupwho should be considered under the general principle of ‘leaving no-onebehind’inordertoachieveSDGsandothertargets.

14Ibid.15 Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Challenges for Migration in light of the SDGs: Context of Bangladesh, KeynotepresentationintheDialogueorganizedbyCitizen’sPlatformforSDGs,BangladeshandBRACon6thMay201816Ibid.