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Settlement of Outstanding Dues: All dues must be cleared before repatriation. In case of
inability of the employers to clear such dues before the return of the workers, documents
should be issued by the employers that can be presented in courts for settlement. Provisions
should be made so that the embassies can make claims on behalf of the workers who are
repatriated to the countries of origin.
Employer Pay for Involuntary Repatriation: In case of involuntary repatriation of workers with
valid contracts onus should lie on the employers to bear the full cost of repatriation including
medical test.
Bangladesh Embassy Role:
Services of Missions: Embassies should ensure migrant-friendly services to ensure
efficient and respectful treatment of the migrant workers. In emergency situations
when migrant workers’ mobility is restricted embassies should offer services that
require minimal travel of migrant workers. Embassies should also have facilities so
that migrant workers can secure information over telephone and online about visa
extension, repatriation and the like. They need to be abreast with the laws,
regulations, customs and tradition and if possible, language of the host country.
Resourcing Embassy: In emergency situations when the migrant workers are in
distress, the embassies are to be provided with adequate resources to extend
emergency assistance to the migrant workers. Also, embassies should have motivated
personnel to mitigate the plight of the migrant workers in a professional way.
Registration by Missions: Registration process following due diligence needs to be
conducted by Bangladesh missions before the workers are repatriated. If any unpaid
wages and other benefits remain pending, then the missions should be permitted to
take the power of attorney from the migrants and pursue settlements of claims
subsequently.
Dialogue: Labour sending and receiving countries should begin an urgent dialogue to ensure
that lessons are learnt from facing the emergency situation triggered by COVID 19 and
necessary changes are affected in policies and practices in dealing with labour migrants.
Platforms such as the Colombo Process and Abu Dhabi Dialogue may be used to initiate such
discussion.