Only two lounges, slightly improved airport services – is this all labour migration reform means?

Infograph: TBS

Highlights:

• Migration costs for Bangladeshi workers remain highest in South Asia.
• Efforts to reduce costs are hindered by weak execution.
• Illegal visa trading and agency syndicates persist without major reforms.
• New airport lounges for migrants show mixed results, limited success.
• Malaysian recruitment syndicate resurfaces, political backing suspected again.

High migration costs for Bangladeshi workers – the highest in South Asia – were flagged as the top challenge in the overseas employment sector by the White Paper on the State of Bangladesh's Economy last November.

Acknowledging the issue, Expatriates' Welfare Adviser Asif Nazrul later highlighted the interim government's efforts to reduce migration costs during International Migrants Day on 18 December.

However, the issue remains unresolved.

Stakeholders say there has been little progress in addressing other critical concerns, too, such as illegal visa trading, agency syndicates, and reopening labour markets.

They also warn that the infamous Malaysian recruitment syndicate, blamed for driving up costs and mismanagement, appears to be regaining ground with political backing.

Meanwhile, experts argue the government's efforts are undermined by a lack of clear vision, weak execution, and limited authority due to its lack of direct electoral mandate.

"There's no visible action to dismantle the syndicates. What's the difference from the previous government?" said Mohammad Jalal Uddin Sikder, a migration expert and faculty member at North South University.

"We had hoped Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus' global standing would help open new markets, but instead, only promises were made with little real progress," he added.

Mixed reactions to lounges for migrants

One of the first announcements made by the expatriates' welfare ministry after the formation of the interim government was the introduction of VIP services for remitters.

While airport services like baggage handling and staff behaviour have improved, the initiative has seen limited implementation.

The government has built two lounges for migrant workers: one inside the terminal with rest areas and subsidised meals, and another in the multi-level car park.

Last week, a couple travelling to Canada arrived 12 hours early and found the lounge unbearable due to the lack of air conditioning.

"They had sofas and mats, but no proper ventilation or AC made it very uncomfortable," said their relative, Md Zahir. He suggested installing central air conditioning.

In contrast, the lounge inside the airport offers a more comfortable environment. During a visit on 27 April, outbound workers were seen waiting in comfort.

"I didn't get a 30% discount on food before, but now I do. There are also free phone and photocopying services," said Hossain Ali, a Qatar-bound worker from Cumilla.

Costs still high

According to sector insiders, migration costs – including passport fees, training, recruiting agency fees, and sub-agent fees – have doubled or tripled for various major destinations over the last 15 years.

Industry insiders have attributed the soaring costs to the growth of illegal syndicates during the Sheikh Hasina-led government.

In 2017, the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment set the highest migration cost at Tk2,62,270 for Singapore.

It also set highest Tk165,000 for Saudi Arabia, Tk97,780 for Bahrain, Tk107,780 for the UAE, Tk106,780 for Kuwait, and Tk100,780 for both Oman and Qatar.

In 2021, the government set a minimum cost of Tk78,990 for Malaysia.

However, according to sector insiders, the expenses for low-skilled overseas job seekers from Bangladesh to major destinations, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Singapore, currently range from Tk4 lakh to Tk10 lakh. Before 2008, the costs ranged from Tk80,000 to Tk5 lakh.

In December, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul said, "Reducing migration costs is our biggest challenge. While some agencies operate fairly, many aim to exploit workers. We're trying to regulate the roles of sub-agents."

A top official of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), said, "Many people obtain employment visas through personal connections, making it challenging to curb visa trading in these cases. Nonetheless, policy interventions will be necessary to end visa trading in destination countries."

The official added that efforts are underway to make Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited, the government-owned recruiting agency, more active. "This would compel private agencies to reduce their expenses."

Jalal Uddin Sikder said, "The increase in the number of intermediaries further drives up migration costs. To reduce costs, there should be recognition of brokers, opening up available markets, enhancing skills, and focusing on reducing unemployment pressure."

Although there is no formal reform commission for the labour migration sector, the issues faced by remitters were addressed in the Labour Reform Commission report in April this year.

The report recommended publishing quarterly, transparent lists of migration costs and monitoring the overall situation.

Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, senior secretary of the expatriates' welfare ministry, told TBS that agencies take the money because people pay them.

"It is not humanly possible to monitor door-to-door transactions," he said. "If individuals pay whatever is demanded, agencies have no incentive to lower costs."

However, stern actions are taken when complaints are received, including, in some cases, cancelling agency licences, added the secretary.

Asked about the ongoing problem of illegal visa trading, he said, "Whenever an agency is caught, action is taken. But dishonest individuals exist everywhere, even in destination countries. How can you completely prevent that?"

Malaysian syndicate resurfaces

The Malaysian syndicate, accused of embezzling billions through irregularities and illegal recruitment practices during the former Awami League government, is reportedly active again, according to sector insiders.

Malaysia's labour market has remained closed since June last year due to these scandals.

Following the political transition, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched investigations into four former MPs allegedly involved in the syndicate – former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, former Feni MP Nizam Uddin Hazari, Lt Gen (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury, and former Dhaka MP Benazir Ahmed.

However, key syndicate leaders Ruhul Amin Swapan and Aminul Islam (Amin Noor) have yet to face any legal consequences.

Recruiting agency owners claim that new efforts are underway to rebuild the syndicate – this time involving members of other political parties instead of Awami League leaders.

Fakhrul Islam, former joint secretary of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), said, "We will not accept a return to paying syndicates for worker deployment. If the interim government follows the same path, we will launch strong protests."

"Recently, we have submitted a memorandum to the expatriate welfare adviser so that the Malaysian labour market reopens for all recruiting agencies," he added.

Regarding reemergence of syndicates, Senior Secretary Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan said, "We have no indication of this. We expect the previous situation will not be repeated."

Bhuiyan added that Malaysia now operates through a software system, and discussions are ongoing to make the process more worker-friendly. "We are in talks with them, and we may seek their assistance to improve the system."

Regarding efforts to expand employment opportunities, Bhuiyan said, "We are in contact with relevant ambassadors. On one hand, we are working to reopen closed markets; on the other, we are trying to explore new ones."

Adviser Asif Nazrul could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts via phone and texts.