Bangladesh: 16 migrant workers' groups release statement demanding support as govt's proposed budget does not include funds for their welfare
"Rights’ organisations feel budgetary allocation for migrant workers inadequate", 14 June 2020
Migrant workers’ rights activists...expressed frustration over the proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 (FY21) as no specific allocation for the migrant workers and their families were in it.
16 migrant rights bodies expressed their reaction in a statement on the proposed budget and urged the government to enhance allocation for migration sector to help overcome impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
The organisations include OKUP, BNSK, BRAC, IID, WARBE, INAFI, BOMSA, BASUG, KARMOJIBI NARI, MJF, BNPS, DEVCOM, IMA , AWAJ FOUNDATION ,Migration news and FILMS 4 PEACE Foundation, according to a press release.
Even during this global crisis, the migrants did not stop sending back money. However, the national budget allocated Tk 6.41 billion for the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE) ministry for FY21, which is one of the lowest allocations.
They also noted that the government increased allocation for the social safety net programme and proposed to widen the coverage but despite substantial demands, the issue of inclusion of migrant workers and their families into the social safety net programme is yet be addressed.
They demanded for an allocation of at least TK 10.00 billion for the vulnerable returnee migrant workers and the families under the proposed amount for the social safety net programmes...