UN for reduction in cost of migration, recruitment

Special Representative to United Nations Secretary-General on Migration and Development Sir Peter Sutherland has laid emphasis on reduction of cost of recruitment and remittance for the migrant workers for their betterment.

“There are plenty of recruiters in this country. It is a huge industry for recruitment. This country has to demonstrate that recruitment is conducted in terms, which are absolutely fair and honourable in the interest of the migrants as well as the recruiters,” he said while presenting the keynote speech at a seminar on ‘Migration and Development: Challenges and Perspectives’ organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its auditorium yesterday.
“It is also obligatory for the country of destination,” he said, stressing the need for rigorous enforcement of the recruitment-related laws.
Referring to Addis Ababa Action Agenda that took place last year, the special representative said that the agenda included the reduction of recruitment cost.
“People make promises and they fail to deliver,” he said. 
On remittance, Sutherland said, “Remittance is a part of economic development in Bangladesh. Cost of remittance is down to average eight percent. But, I think the remittance cost should be at two to three percent at the most.”
If the remittance cost goes down, all migrants, especially the poor, can be enormously benefitted, he said.
Sutherland also said that it is important to look after people who have left their countries owing to persecution. At the same time, he said that it is also important to take care of the people who are forced to go to other countries after being affected by the adverse effect of climate change.
The special representative stressed that the issue regarding migration between Bangladesh and Myanmar should be addressed through cooperation.
“This year is a crucial year for migration agenda. Migration has become a universal focus,” he added.
Bangladesh has played an important role to include migration in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) agenda as an important topic, Sutherland said.

UN for reduction in cost of migration, recruitment

Special Representative to United Nations Secretary-General on Migration and Development Sir Peter Sutherland has laid emphasis on reduction of cost of recruitment and remittance for the migrant workers for their betterment. There are plenty of recruiters in this country. It is a huge industry for recruitment. This country has to demonstrate that recruitment is conducted in terms, which are absolutely fair and honourable in the interest of the migrants as well as the recruiters, he said while presenting the keynote speech at a seminar on Migration and Development: Challenges and Perspectives organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its auditorium yesterday. It is also obligatory for the country of destination, he said, stressing the need for rigorous enforcement of the recruitment-related laws. Referring to Addis Ababa Action Agenda that took place last year, the special representative said that the agenda included the reduction of recruitment cost. People make promises and they fail to deliver, he said. On remittance, Sutherland said, Remittance is a part of economic development in Bangladesh. Cost of remittance is down to average eight percent. But, I think the remittance cost should be at two to three percent at the most. If the remittance cost goes down, all migrants, especially the poor, can be enormously benefitted, he said. Sutherland also said that it is important to look after people who have left their countries owing to persecution. At the same time, he said that it is also important to take care of the people who are forced to go to other countries after being affected by the adverse effect of climate change. The special representative stressed that the issue regarding migration between Bangladesh and Myanmar should be addressed through cooperation. This year is a crucial year for migration agenda. Migration has become a universal focus, he added. Bangladesh has played an important role to include migration in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) agenda as an important topic, Sutherland said.