An in-house dialogue on Managing Labour Migration: Implications for Bangladesh was held at the Dialogue Room of the CPD on 21 March 2010.
Professor Philip L Martin, Department of Agriculture and Resources Economics, University of California, Davis, USA, made the presentation. Sabreen S Rahman, Program Development Adviser of the American Center in Dhaka and CPD researchers were present at the session. Professor Martin observed that the international labour migration increases with demographic and economic inequalities and globalisation. Bangladesh’s labour migration scenario was highlighted in the dialogue showing that about 60 per cent of Bangladeshi migrants make their own arrangement to go to their destinations, 39 per cent leave with the help of recruiters and one per cent take help from Bangladesh Overseas Employment Services Ltd. (BOESEL). It was concluded that low-skilled Bangladeshi workers pay relatively higher recruitment costs. Recommendations were made for shifting migrants from the GCC “cash cows” to “star” destinations including the UK, US and Europe, and developing “Brand Bangladesh” via internationally accredited training institutions and certificates.