Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) and Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM) in collaboration with Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) organised the 10th symposium on Fair and Ethical Recruitment. Dr C R Abrar in his keynote presentation highlighted the need for regulating the intermediaries and bringing an end to visa trading. and suggested that ethical recruiters are to be recognised and provided incentives and the unscrupulous recruiters are blacklisted and penalised. He said firmly that issuing and renewal of recruiting licenses should be made on merit and performance. The consultation brought together more than 70 national and regional stakeholders including representatives of Parliamentarians’ Caucus on Migration and Development, ministry and government organisation, development organisations, civil society organisations, the media and representatives of MFA. Among others, Ms Nirvana Mujtaba, Consultant, IRIS Secretariat, IOM Geneva, Mr Shakirul Islam, Chair, OKUP, Ms Sumaiya Islam, Executive Director, BNSK, Mr Asif Munier, Migration Expert, Mr Mir Khairul Alam, ADG, BMET, Dr Nashid Rizwana Monir, Deputy Secretary of Ministry of EWOE, Mr Anindya Dutta, Programme Officer, SDC, Former BAIRA Secretary Generals Mr Ali Haider Chowdhury and Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman participated in the event. Guests of the programme highlighted that ensuring fair and ethical recruitment is a precondition for the migrants to optimise from their migration experience. They also felt that migration should be a matter of choice and not a necessity. The objective of the consultation was to better understand and highlight the need for ethical recruitment among Bangladeshi stakeholders. It focused on the concept of ethical recruitment, identify the roles of relevant stakeholders including that of the private sector, assesses what role CSOs can plan in advocacy on fair and ethical recruitment etc.
Ms Alexis Nadine Bautista, Programme Assistant, MFA said that the structural challenges towards fair and ethical recruitment need to be looked at. According to Ms Bautista, collective action is required in this regard. Mr Shakirul Islam, the chairperson, OKUP, said more than 75 per cent of migrant workers were not provided with job contracts before departure, what was written and what were the conditions. He added those who were provided with a job contract did have little idea about its importance. Chief of Mission, IOM Bangladesh, Mr Giorgi Gigauri said exploitation of migrants begins at the recruitment stage and hence ensuring ethical recruitment will go a long way in addressing their plights. Special Guest Mr Md. Shahidul Alam, (ndc), DG, BMET concedes the social costs of migration and the need for developing appropriate policy and programme intervention so that distressed migrants can be provided with meaningful support. He also demanded further research to help frame appropriate policies. Chief Guest of the consultation Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP called for framing a code of conduct on recruitment. He said that labour receiving countries should acknowledge the contribution of migrants in building their economies and thus treat them with respect and dignity.