Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has called for more effective and coordinated global cooperation in migration management.
He said, ‘It is the need of the hour to ensure the protection of migrant workers, develop a better and accurate information system and take concerted and strong steps to combat discrimination and misinformation.’
He said this in his vice-presidential address at the multi-stakeholder round table 4 of the International Migration Review Forum held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York last Wednesday.
Ariful Haque Chowdhury said, “Migrant workers should not be considered as ‘usable labour’, but as human beings with rights.”
The Minister stressed on the collection of accurate, analytical and comparable migration data, capacity building of the National Statistical System, strengthening inter-agency coordination and protection of personal privacy and human rights.
He said, ‘It is necessary to ensure accurate and timely information at every stage of immigration through multi-purpose service centers, digital platforms and community-based initiatives.’
Noting the high risk of domestic workers, agricultural and informal sector workers, he called for a rights-based approach to prevent exploitation and unsafe working conditions.
Also, he emphasized on strengthening accountability, digital literacy and inclusive public debate to counter xenophobia and misinformed anti-immigration campaigns.
Calling for strengthening bilateral and global cooperation, the minister said, “It is essential to adopt a ‘whole government and whole society’ integrated approach in immigration management to ensure dignity, protection and welfare of all.”
