With 2 million young people joining the labour force every year, when only 500,000 jobs are created annually, Bangladesh will see worsening income inequalities and access to resources. International migration is a strategy for Bangladesh to help the young labour force to obtain employment overseas. Migration is important for the economy of Bangladesh: 5.5% or more of the labour force is employed overseas and remittances account for more than 9% of the Gross Domestic Product. Migration supports household incomes through remittances, which are used for better education, health care, water, sanitation and nutrition.

Men and women migrant workers will benefit from safe migration and decent work.

The primary target beneficiaries of the project are the Bangladeshi migrants in the countries of destination as well as the potential Bangladeshi migrants who will emigrate from Bangladesh. It is expected that at least 2 million Bangladeshis will depart from the country in the project period, and at least 50% (i.e. 1 million migrants) will enjoy better protection of human and labour rights, once the policy is operational and the relevant institutions strengthened.
Officials from public and private offices (related to labour migration) are also targeted through this project. 

1. Men and women migrant workers are better protected through improved policy.
2. Public and private institutions contribute to safe migration and decent work for men and women migrants.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

1. The Government of Bangladesh adopts and implements legislation and rules pertaining to labour migration.
2. Bangladeshi officials are able to apply  International Labour Standards principles and good practices in labour migration in Memorandum of Understanding and Bilateral Agreements.
3. The government and recruitment agencies are able to improve the scope and quality of services.
4. The government is able to verify and provide skills training and assess them (in line with internationally recognized occupational titles).

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

The Overseas Employment Policy and Migrants’ Act was prepared with support of the project and both were eventually approved by the Parliament. However, to operationalize the policy and act, there is need for revision of the existing rules and development of new rules (such as licensing of recruitment agencies and migrant workers welfare).

In Phase 1, the project has also assisted to review government and private agencies dealing with migrant workers and identify gaps (such as organizational review of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and development of Code of Conduct for recruitment agencies). In Phase 2, the project will assist these agencies to improve their services according to the findings of the review (such as assisting BMET to obtain certification of quality) for delivery of services.

N/a

International Labour Migration Statistics Database for South Asia (regional project)
Pilot Project on Skill Development, Certification, Upgrading and Recognition (United Arab Emirates and Kuwait)

Phase 2 01.04.2016 - 30.06.2019   (Completed)