About 60 per cent of the male migrant worker’s households are surviving mostly on loans during the pandemic period as they fail to receive remittances from their near and dear ones, according to a study.
The study by RMMRU, revealed on Monday, showed that 61 per cent of the migrant workers’ families back home did not receive any remittance in the last three months.
Remaining 39 per cent families received remittances but they got on an average Tk 30,000. In the post-coronavirus time, these families received on average Tk 47,000 per quarter.
The study titled ‘Impact of Covid 19 on Left Behind Migrant Households’, was conducted by nine Bangladesh Civil Society for Migration (BCSM) members’ organizations, under the leadership of Tasneem Siddiqui, founding chair of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU).
It covered 100 arbitrarily returned migrant workers and 100 migrant households in 21 districts in the country.
The findings showed that nearly 38 per cent of the female migrant workers’ households are depending on loans. About 38 per cent of female migrant workers’ families have income from others members while for male households, it is 21 per cent.
Remittance is the only source of income for 57 per cent families. On the other hand, about 3/4th portion of 18 per cent household’s income comes from remittance. For 14 per cent households, remittance constitutes half of the family income, the study mentioned.
The findings showed that the monthly household expenditure of migrant workers on average was Tk 17,000 before Covid-19 outbreak, which currently dropped to Tk 7,300, reflecting a 43 per cent decline.
RMMRU Chair Tasneem Siddiqui presented the key findings of the study and said the country received an increased volume of remittances over the few months. But increase in remittance flow may not reflect that migrants are being able to cope with Covid 19 situation.
Many households fail to receive remittances due to different factors. Therefore there is a need to extend cash grant support to the distressed left behind families.
Referring the recommendation she stressed the need for effectively incorporating distressed migrant families in public assistance schemes for Covid 19.
She also suggested measures to prevent women from violence and ensure exemplary punishment to the perpetrators.
Ms Siddiqui said past experience has shown that violence against women increases during any crisis situation.
RMMRU has collected 100 cases of violence in migrant workers’ households that shows women faced rape, murder and exploitation.
RMMRU Executive Director Prof CR Abrar moderated the programme, while Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmad was the chief guest. Lawmaker, officials, representative from the different NGOs among others attended the virtual programme.
Imran Ahmad said they will consider the recommendations of the research. He also said the economic condition of Middle East (ME) countries dropped down that impacted the migrant workers.
“The ME countries now are prioritising local employment. So, the sending countries are facing a pressure”, he said.
“So, it is needed to way out how to be controlled the situation. Diplomatic initiative is important, to this effect,” the minister added.
