Labour Migration to Middle Eastern Countries: Labour Market Scenario in Bangladesh and Migrants’ Perspectives

A. G. Al-Morshed
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A. G. Al-Morshed: Institute of Bangladesh Studies, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

International Journal of Science and Business, 2021, vol. 5, issue 11, 29-43

Abstract: International labor migration contributes to the economy of Bangladesh in the context of reducing unemployment and earnings through remittances. According to government statistics, total population of Bangladesh is 16 crore 37 lakh and labour force is 6 crore 35 lakh with 27 lakh as unemployed. Every year 2 million labour force is being added Bangladeshi labour market and around 1 million usually for overseas employment in 165 countries around the world. Time series data shows that about 80% percent of the total expatriate workers of Bangladesh migrated to MECs like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait and others. This paper aims at finding the labour market context at homeland and the economic causes of migration. Both primary and secondary sources of data are used in this study. Primary data have been collected through a questionnaire survey from three districts with most migrants and 227 respondents were calculated based on 95% confidence level of sample selection. The study reveals that the limitations and deficiencies of internal labour market like lack of new job creation, low productivity, very low employment elasticity, low female participation rate etc. are prevailing in internal labour market of Bangladesh, which creates the situation of unemployment. While analyzing the economic drivers of migration it is found that Bangladeshi workers go abroad to enjoy better employment opportunity, reduce poverty at home and uplift life standard and so on. If the weaknesses in the domestic labour market can be taken care of, the employment of workers at home will increase and at the same time an environment may be created for overseas employment at higher wages. From this perspective, this study may help policy makers and concerned stakeholders to make appropriate policies and take actions accordingly.

Keywords: Labour Market; Labour force; Migration; Middle Eastern Countries; Unemployment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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