Bangladesh seeks stronger IOM support to advance skills-based migration agenda

Dhaka: Bangladesh has called for enhanced support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to help transform the country's overseas employment sector into a skills-based, rights-based, and well-governed migration system.

The call came during a meeting between State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and the newly appointed IOM Chief of Mission in Bangladesh, Dr. Laura Nicole Tomm-Bonde, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on July 5, according to a ministry press release.

During the meeting, the state minister reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment as a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) Champion Country to implementing the Global Compact for Migration.

She said the government is prioritizing reforms to make labor migration more skills-driven while ensuring stronger protection of migrant workers' rights.

The state minister highlighted the government's focus on skills development, recognition of qualifications, ethical recruitment practices, protection of migrant workers in destination countries, expansion of regular labor mobility pathways, and sustainable reintegration of returning migrants.

She also appreciated IOM's continued technical assistance and cooperation in strengthening Bangladesh's migration governance framework and urged the UN migration agency to further enhance its support in advancing the country's migration priorities.

Dr. Tomm-Bonde praised Bangladesh's leadership in migration governance and reaffirmed IOM's commitment to deepening cooperation in line with the government's vision and priorities.

Both sides expressed optimism about further strengthening the Bangladesh-IOM partnership to establish more effective migration governance in the country, the release added.