Multistakeholder workshop to share the proposed overseas employment policy 2013

The International Labour Organization (ILO) facilitated a day-long workshop organized by the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE) to share the first draft of the proposed Overseas Employment Policy 2013. The initiative comes under the Project “Promoting Decent Work through Improved Migration Policy and its Application in Bangladesh”, which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The International Labour Organization (ILO) facilitated a day-long workshop organized by the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE) to share the first draft of the proposed Overseas Employment Policy 2013. The initiative comes under the Project “Promoting Decent Work through Improved Migration Policy and its Application in Bangladesh”, which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The Additional Secretary of the MEWOE, Mr. Hazarat Ali, who chaired the first half of the workshop, thanked the ILO for technical assistance in reviewing and drafting the proposed draft of the Overseas Employment Policy 2013. Going through the proposed draft, the participants acknowledged the knowledge that the ILO holds of key issues in the design of national employment policies. They also appreciated the process carried out by the ILO’s Project team led by the Chief Technical Advisor, Ms. Nisha and enthusiasm shown by the National Project Officer, Disha Sonata Faruque. The expert, Dr Md. Muqtada, who drafted the proposed draft of the Overseas Employment Policy 2013, expressed that the ILO has helped develop a shared vision among the tripartite constituents on this Policy.

The participants went through draft section-wise reviewing and commenting on each paragraph. Chief Technical Advisor, Ms. Nisha, informed the participants that the draft takes into account the trends and performances in overseas employment both in terms of quantity and quality of employment and is evidence based.

The second half of the workshop was chaired by the Joint Secretary, Dr. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, who in addition also delved into a discussion on the issue of objective justification for the length of the policy to allow a reasonable analysis, challenge identification and recommendations for redress. Dr Kamal thanked the SDC for funding the important project which is making available the ILO’s expertise to bring about legislative and policy change in Bangladesh for labour migration governance. He further thanked his own colleagues and the participants and stakeholders who have engaged in the process of the drafting of the proposed Overseas Employment Policy 2013 for their deep engagement.