The Covid-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented toll on the economies across the world. Like others, the Gulf states, like Bahrain, Kuwait, KSA, Oman, Qatar, and therefore the UAE also are within the strain as businesses and services are packing up, the oil price is plummeting, and tourism has come to a halt. As much because the world goes to experience an apocalyptic economic downturn, a foreseeable immigration crisis' goes to show the long-standing vulnerability of 25 million migrants. Although it would be too early to understand the full-scale of the negative impact on foreign employment and remittances, it might be far less of a surprise to ascertain a wave of joblessness, mass redundancies, forced repatriation, and a subsequent slump of remittance flow within the coming months. The World Bank has suggested a 20 percent decline of international remittance this year, while the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia has predicted. The Migrant Workers Convention, 1975 has mentioned, 'one will enjoy equality of treatment with nationals in respect especially of guarantees of security of employment, the supply of other employment, relief work or retraining'. The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, 1990 mentioned, 'emergency medical aid will not be refused by reason of any irregularity with reference to staying or employment'. However, with a couple of exceptions, there's an absence of commitment to protecting migrant workers' health, wages, and jobs. The disproportionate number of corona positive cases among migrant workers in some Gulf countries and Singapore illustrates the miserable reality. While the health protection of migrant workers has been imperative, Gulf countries tend to require advantage of their vulnerability. Kuwait, within the guise of a general amnesty, has started deportation, even amid this unprecedented travel and mobility restrictions. A threat to review the labor ties and therefore the time has chosen to implement this policy have generated a way of discomfort and criticism to several. Gulf governments have not considered that mass deportation may increase the danger of contagion and can exacerbate the issues prevailing in originating countries. Moreover, they need to become oblivious to the very fact that irregular workers are often the victims of strict immigration policy, and transnational recruitment systems related to wide-spread visa trading whereby the migrant workers become victims in most cases. The existence of cut-throat competition at state-level for foreign employment and inward remittance and an absence of meaningful alliance among sending states have contributed to the denial of humanitarian obligations and outright flouting of international laws by the host states. Considering the potential health risk and being mindful of international laws, the host countries should stop their unjust action of repatriating migrant workers amid this crisis. The originating countries, together with regional and international advocacy groups, could launch an attempt to convince the host states during this regard. The global monetary value of remittances posted a little decline to six. Online transactions require remittance service providers to exercise vigilance against fraud and financial crime, to suits anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism regulations. Second, supporting the remittance infrastructure by recognizing remittance service providers as essential services, and offering incentives to scale back the value of remittance services. In the medium to long-term, policies should encourage the interoperability of online remittance systems and support efforts to scale back remittance costs, which remain far too high for a few of the poorest regions. Responsibilities of BAIRA because the only federating body of Bangladeshi recruiting agencies BAIRA should create an emergency fund from the subscription of its members. From the above-mentioned emergency fund BAIRA should provide assistance to those migrant families whose papers were processed but could not avail flights thanks to a sudden outbreak of COVID-19. Stabilizing Remittance Flow within the countries of destination many remittance transfer houses are not operating. The Government should urge those countries to treat remittance transfer as emergency service and keep the facilities open in order that migrants who still need to earn can send remittance. The Bangladesh missions should compute modalities with authorities of the destination country to make a channel of communication with those female migrants who are performing at home. Concerns about the security of girls working in other sectors should also receive equal attention. Harness the experience of returnee migrants Germany has recently employed 300 refugees to figure as health professionals.
Database of Returnee Migrants The Ministry of Health has located
migrants who returned after the outbreak of COVID-19 by using the arrival data
of civil aviation and immigration departments. Compared to the primary three
months of last year, remittance flow has reduced by 12 percent this year.
Reduction within the purchasing power of the migrant households will affect the
local market and thus the area people indirectly. Of course, some positive
results can also occur within the aftermath of the crisis. To face the
challenge of the COVID-19 crisis, alongside the actions currently pursued, the
govt of Bangladesh must take some more actions: both within the short term also
as within the end of the day. Creation of Fund the govt has created a
Bangladesh Taka 5000 crore fund to support the wages of these who add
export-oriented industries. In a similar spirit, we demand the creation of an
emergency loan fund to support the left-behind families of migrant workers who
have lost their income thanks to non-receipt of remittance from abroad. We have
just released a replacement report highlighting the impacts of COVID-19 on
migration and remittance flows. Host countries face additional challenges in
many sectors, like health and agriculture, that depend upon the supply of migrant
workers. Migrants face the danger of contagion and also the possible loss of
employment, wages, and insurance coverage. Efforts to curb the spread of the
coronavirus got to include migrants, who face risks unique to their living and
dealing situations. Low-wage migrant workers, especially those in non-essential
sectors are susceptible to the loss of employment and wages. Lockdowns in
crowded worker dormitories increase the danger of contagion among migrant
workers. Further, migrants who wish to return home are stranded thanks to the
suspension of transport services, though host countries that have granted visa
extensions and temporary amnesty to migrant workers have provided some measure
of relief. Remittance inflow during July-December of FY2017 was rock bottom in
comparison with an equivalent period of the last four fiscal years. During the
amount, the expansion of remittance declined by 17.6 percent compared to the
corresponding periods of the previous financial year. 9 percent altogether the
GCC countries during the July-December period of FY2017. In addition to GCC
countries, remittances from Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, and therefore the USA
has also seen a big fall during an equivalent period. The gap between
remittance inflow and aid disbursement has been increasing since 2001 thanks to
the consistent growth of remittance inflow and decline in aid as a percentage
of GDP. Although it would be too early to understand the full-scale of the
negative impact on foreign employment and remittances, it might be far less of
a surprise to ascertain a wave of joblessness, mass redundancies, forced
repatriation, and a subsequent slump of remittance flow within the coming
months. The World Bank has suggested a 20 percent decline of international
remittance this year, while the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia
has predicted. In contrast to the declining remittance trend, the outward
migration from Bangladesh has significantly increased during a previous
couple of years. The annual growth of outward migration in FY2016 was 48.
During July-December FY2017, the expansion of migrant workers was 23.5 percent
over the corresponding months of the previous financial year. The growth of
migrant workers to the center East continued to rise, accounting for 78.5
percent of the entire number during this era. The 2008 financial crash and
recession provide some indications of how this crisis in migrant work may
affect remittance flows.
The disproportionate number of corona positive cases among migrant
workers in some Gulf countries and Singapore illustrates the miserable reality.
The Migrant Workers Convention, 1975 has mentioned, 'one will enjoy equality of
treatment with nationals in respect especially of guarantees of security of
employment, the supply of other employment, relief work or retraining'. The
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers
and Members of Their Families, 1990 mentioned, 'emergency medical aid will not
be refused by reason of any irregularity with reference to staying or
employment'. A slowdown in remittances has serious ramifications for the
economy of Bangladesh because it may be a major source of exchange reserve. A
continuous slowdown in remittances also will have an impression on the progress
of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. The 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development of the United Nations mainstreamed the difficulty of
migration and remittance which was not included within the Millennium
Development Goals. Among the 17 SDGs, a variety of them has underlined the
importance of migration and remittances. Refers to facilitating orderly, safe,
regular, and responsible migration and mobility of individuals, including the
implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies. SDG 17 involves
strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the worldwide
partnership for sustainable development. Gulf governments have not considered
that mass deportation may increase the danger of contagion and can exacerbate
the issues prevailing in originating countries. Moreover, they need to become
oblivious to the very fact that irregular workers are often the victims of
strict immigration policy, and transnational recruitment systems related to
wide-spread visa trading whereby the migrant workers become victims in most
cases. Description: This is often the second volume of Labour Migration in
Asia. The first volume checked out trends, challenges, and policy responses in
countries of origin. This volume describes and makes an assessment of specific
initiatives in selected countries of origin to guard migrant workers through
the regulation of recruitment and setting of minimum standards employed
contracts, provide support services to migrant workers through pre-departure
orientation and a welfare fund and enhance the event benefits of labor migration
through training, skills development, and remittances. The articles are written
by labor migration specialists and practitioners from the countries concerned
and are commissioned by IOM, the Department for International Development, and
therefore the Asian Development Bank. This is the second volume of Labour
Migration in Asia. The first volume checked out trends, challenges, and policy
responses in countries of origin. This volume describes and makes an assessment
of specific initiatives in selected countries of origin to guard migrant
workers through the regulation of recruitment and setting of minimum standards
employed contracts, provide support services to migrant workers through
pre-departure orientation and a welfare fund and enhance the event benefits of
labor migration through training, skills development, and remittances. The
importance of remittances within the economy of Bangladesh is well understood.
As has been experienced within the past years, increased remittances are thanks
to an increased number of migrants to varied countries. While the health
protection of migrant workers has been imperative, Gulf countries tend to
require advantage of their vulnerability. Online news conference on Protection
of Migrants during COVID-19 Pandemic Situation Analysis of RMMRU and Tasks
Ahead Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure protection and
wellbeing of the migrants and members of their families RMMRU has been working
tirelessly with the migrants' reception and abroad. Second, the access migrant
workers need to public funds is - with some exceptions - specifically
restricted as a condition of their visas. A section of returnee migrants may
match the talents required in those sectors. As the coronavirus pandemic hits
jobs and wages in many sectors of the worldwide economy that depend upon
migrants, a slowdown within the amount of cash these workers remit home to
their families looks increasingly likely.
They will fundamentally shape how, and therefore the pace at which, the
planet recovers from coronavirus. In the UK their labor has been somewhat belatedly
acknowledged by the govt, and their importance to the health service
demonstrated by the house Office's decision to increase all visas of doctors
arising for renewal by a year. In regions like the Horn of Africa, where 40% of
households are heavily dependent upon remittances, any disruption inflows sent
by the Somali diaspora will further exacerbate food insecurity. The Covid-19
pandemic has brought an unprecedented toll on the economies across the world.
Like others, the Gulf states, like Bahrain, Kuwait, KSA, Oman, Qatar, and
therefore the UAE also are within the strain as businesses and services are
packing up, the oil price is plummeting, and tourism has come to a halt. As much
because the globe goes to experience an apocalyptic economic downturn, a
foreseeable immigration crisis' goes to show the long-standing vulnerability of
25 million migrants, stationed within the Gulf labor markets. Every year around
600,000 to 700,000 Bangladeshi males and females migrate to the Gulf, other
Arab, and South-east Asian countries for employment. The pandemic has put both
of those groups in crisis. Among the explanations for declining remittances,
the economic slowdown within the GCC countries and Europe is that the commonest
reason. This has affected the employability and wages in these countries. Steep
fall in oil prices within the oil-exporting GCC countries has taken a toll on
remittances in Bangladesh. Though Bangladesh has benefitted from lower global
oil prices in terms of lower subsidy requirements of the govt, the flip side of
this fall is being reflected through lower remittances. In the aftermath of the
pandemic if the regular migration process is slowing down then people will take
desperate moves to secure employment. The trafficking and human smuggling
syndicates cash in of things. In the post corona phase, the member states of
the Colombo Process and Abu Dhabi Dialogue should develop appropriate short and
future strategies for the protection of migrants during emergencies. The Corona
pandemic has provided a chance for policymakers to creatively address a huge
health emergency. It has implications for various sectors of the economy. RMMRU
has proposed the long and short term measures to deal with the challenges faced
by the migration sector. It hopes that the various ministries of the govt,
civil society, media, and therefore the private sector will give due
consideration to the suggestions. The majority of remittances are small sums of
cash, spent by recipients on everyday subsistence needs including food,
education, and health. The World Bank projects that within five years,
remittances will outstrip overseas aid and foreign direct investment combined,
reflecting the extent to which global financial flows are reshaped by
migration. With the worldwide economy slowing down even before coronavirus, and
therefore the pandemic affecting different parts of the planet over different
timelines, long-term recovery prospects are unclear. The particular
vulnerability of poor countries is clear with the planet Bank pledging US$160
billion over the subsequent 15 months to assist both immediate health priorities
and longer-term economic recovery. With deep concern, RMMRU observes only
migrants are being identified because of the source for spreading infection. All
other groups who also returned recently, i.e., members of the businessmen,
students, visitors, and people working in international organizations are not
bracketed with the spread. Of course, some positive results can also occur
within the aftermath of the crisis. Almost all countries including those within
the developed world are acknowledging that for a protracted period they need
not invested adequately within the health sector. This implies that enormous
scale investment will happen within the future. This will create new
opportunities for jobs for doctors, nurses, microbiologists, lab technicians,
and therefore the like.
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