Bangladesh, UK stress joint efforts to develop skilled workers, curb irregular migration
Dhaka: Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has stressed the need for joint efforts with the United Kingdom to prevent exploitation, irregular migration, and human trafficking.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to developing skilled and quality human resources, ensuring safe and decent employment, and protecting the rights, dignity, and overall welfare of migrant workers.
The minister made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook at his office in the capital on August 9, said a press release from the ministry.
State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md. Nurul Haque and Ministry Secretary Md. Mokhter Ahmed were also present.
The minister sought UK support for English-language, technical, and vocational training to produce skilled workers meeting the demands of the British labor market.
He said UK cooperation would be particularly important in enhancing the capacity of existing technical training centers and Institutes of Marine Technology, as well as providing training in “green skills” and “digital skills."
The minister also stressed the importance of continuing the sustainable rehabilitation and social reintegration of returnee migrant workers through the RAISE project, implemented in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the World Bank.
He proposed forming a joint working group to translate bilateral discussions into concrete actions and oversee cooperation in migration and skills development.
State Minister Md Nurul Haque said Bangladesh’s training centers could establish links with UK institutions to develop workers equipped with internationally recognized skills in line with labor market demands in Europe.
Sending workers holding internationally recognized certificates to different countries would encourage young people to pursue safe and regular migration, he added.
British High Commissioner Sarah Cook expressed the UK’s interest in working jointly with the Bangladesh government to develop skilled workers in line with the demands of the international labor market.
She raised the UK’s concerns over safe, regular, and affordable labor migration from Bangladesh and said the UK was ready to strengthen cooperation to improve the migration system.
She also expressed the UK’s willingness to support Bangladesh in implementing the Global Compact for Migration.
Regarding irregular migration to the UK, Cook said the British government and people had taken a strict position on asylum seekers.
She said Bangladesh is currently among the top five countries of origin for asylum seekers in the UK. Of the Bangladeshis who have recently applied for asylum, only a small number of applications have been approved, while the rest are being deported to their respective countries, she said.
She further said individuals whose asylum applications are rejected and who voluntarily return to Bangladesh are eligible for financial assistance of GBP 3,000 for rehabilitation. However, the facility does not apply to those deported through legal procedures.
