Migrant Resource Centre Bangladesh

ICMPD

International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is an international organisation with 18 Member States and more than 250 staff members. Active in more than 90 countries worldwide, it takes a regional approach in its work to create efficient cooperation and partnerships along migration routes. ICMPD strives for comprehensive, sustainable and future-oriented migration governance and applies a three-pronged approach: capacity building, migration dialogues, and research. Migration dialogues are successful tools to foster governmental discussions and enhance inter-state dialogue in the current debate on migration policy issues. For more information: https://www.icmpd.org/home/

Budapest Process

The Budapest Process is an interregional dialogue on migration stretching from Europe to the Silk Routes region - also covering Europe's Eastern neighbours, the Western Balkans and Central Asia. It provides a platform for dialogue and operational cooperation for over 50 governments and 10 international organisations.The “Silk Routes project”, in brief, aims at maximising the development potential of migration and mobility within the Silk Routes region and towards major labour receiving countries. The Silk Route project also enhances migration governance and mobility and operationalises the Budapest Process through concrete initiatives such as the establishment of further Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs). For more information: https://www.budapestprocess.org/

MRC Bangladesh

MRCs are physical structures with multiple roles and functions. They offer programmes and services for outgoing, intending and potential migrants. They provide pre-departure briefings and one-on-one counselling, conduct information campaigns, and develop knowledge materials.
MRCs also develop modules and provide capacity building for various stakeholders (governments, academia, civil society, migrants/families, etc.). They partner with academic institutions on research, conferences and fora to mainstream migration, and conduct activities for the International Migrants Day and other relevant events or occasions related to migration.

The fundamental priorities of MRCs include:

• Improving the management of migration, including through the enhanced transparency of rules and regulations on recruitment, deployment, pre-departure, community education, etc.
• Providing clear, understandable, timely, accessible and reliable information to potential migrants that will enable them to make informed decisions on migration
• Raising awareness and providing clear information to potential migrants on the risks and dangers associated with irregular migration, trafficking of human beings, smuggling, etc.
• Establishing procedures and reinforcing administrative capacities to ensure that migrants have access to sufficient information on their rights, obligations and opportunities
• Exploring good practices on skills matching and facilitating the recognition of migrants´ professional and educational qualifications and upscaling their skills and competencies

Vision

The MRC will be a one-stop information and referral hub to promote safe, regular, orderly and responsible migration for the welfare and protection of the migrants and their families and to ensure good migration governance from national to union level in Bangladesh.

Mission

By 2021, the MRC is a fully functional, effective, responsive, reliable and trusted information provider within the government of Bangladesh able to provide accurate, timely and comprehensive information and advice to at least 30,000 aspiring migrants and their families per year.

Functions

1. The MRC has seven (7) priority functions which serve as the basis for the key result areas in its work plan for 2020-2021.
2. Serve as a one-stop information hub on migration-related matters through various activities
3. Act as referral platform or structure for other needs and services needed by migrants and their families
4. Provide counselling and guidance to prospective and departing migrants
5. Develop information, education and knowledge materials, conduct research and develop concept notes and policy papers
6. Conduct capacity building and training both for government officers and for prospective migrants
7. Engage with various stakeholders at the national and local level
8. Ensure regular monitoring and evaluation of its related activities

MRCs are under supervision of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE) and integrated with the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and District Employment and Manpower Office (DEMO).

Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE)

Bangladesh Government has established a separate ministry named the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE) on 20 December 2001. The main objective of the Ministry is to ensure welfare of the expatriate workers and enhancement of overseas employment with a principle of equal opportunity for the people of all areas of the country. For more information: https://probashi.gov.bd/

Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET)

Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) was established as an attached department of the then Ministry of Manpower Development and Social Welfare in 1976. Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh established BMET with the purpose of recruiting and sending migrant workers overseas. BMET is engaged in overall planning and implementation of the strategies for regulating migration process, promoting migrant workers rights and skill development proper utilization of migrant workers of the country as a government department under the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE). For more information: https://bmet.portal.gov.bd/

Among the other specific potential partners are:

• Within the MEWOE (in addition to BMET, DEMOs and TTCs): Wage Earners Welfare Board, Bangladesh Overseas Employment Services Limited, Labour Wings
• Other governments agencies: Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development Cooperatives, Union Digital Centres, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Social Welfare Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Administration
• Private sector: Bangladesh Association of International Recruitment Agencies, private technical training centres, financial institutions and money transfer agents
• Academic and training institutions
• Civil society, community-based and migrant organisations