Governance perspective in migration through overseas employment from Bangladesh

Abstract

In the age of globalization, market is open for all. Product/commodities & human resources supplied from one country to another crossing the border. MNCs offshore their business unit in different location considering business prospect & consumer demand. In broad sense, world is like a global village. Rapid changes came in areas of transportation, ICTs, income & wealth distribution, structure of global labor market. The change of those sectors contributed to new shape of international migration including women movement. The movement of people increased compare to earlier. The participation of migrant workers in international labor market is in increasing trend. Bangladeshi worker is an important contributor to this mode. So, governance in migration sector is essential to gain better outputs. Governance in migration covers its current environment & future prospects. The governance system guide the policy direction & expedite result oriented planning & ensure progress towards international migration through overseas employment. There are labor shortages in a number of countries in GCC, EU, Japan & Canada. They are in need of sourcing workers from other countries. Those countries market is open for workers from developing countries. But policy & regulation doesn’t keep pace with change environment. Bangladesh started exporting workers officially since 1976. From that time, the country has been sending manpower to international labor market with an increasing trend & emerged as notable manpower export country. Historically, primary destination of Bangladeshi workers was in Gulf countries. Access to international labor market expanded in 1990 beyond GCC states. A good number of countries included as Bangladeshi migrants destination like Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius & Singapore. Bangladeshi workers access to international market increased tripled from 2010 (390702) to 2022 (1135873). Overseas employment is getting importance to the economy of Bangladesh; even this sector being treated as core sector in 8th five year plan. To keep pace with its importance, Governance to be addressed to retain the increasing trend in global labor market. The shift in global labor market asks for new avenue & responses to labor migration not only from the state but also from other actors like private recruiting Agencies, INGO, IOM, and ILO to shape migration governance. Proper action to new migration avenue & response to the migrants can develop governance in labor migration. Regarding this issue it is emphasized to protect & ensure rights of migrant workers. This paper focuses on policy issues allied to migration, operational system of overseas employment, problems & challenges faced by the migrants in international labor market, recruitment by local recruiting agency, policy implications to bring transparency in overseas employment.