The New Nation - Internet Edition

BANGLADESH can fairly soon much reduce its dependence on foreign aid and carry out its developmental activities by its own efforts by relying on its own strengths. Policies to this end are needed and these can be of the type of 'helping people to help themselves'. The main aim should be exporting in increased number our best ready resource which is manpower. The large amounts of remitted foreign currencies has already boosted up the country's foreign exchange reserve which can strengthen its import operations in support of economy expanding activities. The remittances will help the families of expatriate workers to fast climb out of poor standards of living to a better one.

It was estimated that remittances can multiply within a short period of time to fulfil the above vision if only a proper policy is put into operation. Numerous potential workers are there who cannot go abroad due to some constraints. In many cases, they are unskilled and there is little demand for unskilled workers. The government can play a very useful role by providing training opportunities in diverse areas for these people to go abroad as skilled workers.

People should be admitted free of charge at such skill training centres on the condition that they would pay back for their training costs once they get employment. Neither the trainer nor the trainee stands to lose anything from such an arrangement. But the value of it would be the fast creation of an ever growing body of trained people for the country's own use and overseas markets. Finance is another formidable barrier faced by people in going abroad. So many cases are noted in which desperate people sell off their last valuable possessions to raise the fees of private manpower exporters. The need for such risky steps discourages many from even considering going abroad. Here also, the government can play a very useful role by asking the banks to extend collateral free loans to persons wanting to go abroad on terms and conditions that the loans would be progressively repaid with nominal interest after they reach their destinations of employment abroad.

The foreign missions will have to be activated sufficiently also in support of a dynamic manpower policy. To this end they would be expected to assess prospects for our manpower and help reach contracts at government as well as private levels. They should be also obliged to represent our workers sincerely and unfailingly in all cases where foreign employers may breach terms of contract involving underpayment and other abuses. Higher remittance flow can also be achieved by setting up many more remittance houses abroad and very cooperative and easy working conditions in them. People who would work in these remittance houses can be motivated to offer better services by giving them various incentives.