Strengthened and Informative Migration Systems (SIMS)


Labour migration remains a key driver for development in Bangladesh. The present project strengthens the socio-economic development of the country by providing better life perspectives for migrant workers. It enables migrant workers and their families to take informed decisions towards a productive and safe migration experience with reduced social costs. This supports implementation of the parliamentary mandate to better link Swiss migration policy with international cooperation.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Bangladesh
Migration
Governance
nothemedefined
Labour migration
Legal and judicial development
Remittance
Migration generally (development aspects and partnerships)
16.08.2018 - 30.04.2024
CHF  8’350’955
Background The migration sector faces multiple challenges due to the limited resources, lack of capacity to implement policies, and limited reach of quality services at the grassroots level. However, migration remains a critical aspect of the Bangladeshi economy in terms of number of people employed and remittances earned. Potential migrant workers often have limited knowledge of the destination countries and their rights and also are unable to understand the economic and social costs and benefits of migration. These factors increase the vulnerability of migrant workers and their families. All of the three districts (Cumilla, Chattogram and Narsingdi) selected for implementation of the project, have high instances of poverty and a high rate of male and female labor migration. These districts also lack adequate government and non-government agencies for necessary migration services. The project aims to address some of these gaps by providing greater access to safer migration services and strengthening the Government ownership and capacity to provide such services.
Objectives Migrant workers and their families, particularly the marginalized men and women, improve their well-being due to safer migration practices and better migration governance and services.
Target groups

The project will reach out to 1 million potential migrant workers and their family members with awareness campaigns, highlighting the importance and process of safe migration. Within this group, 150’000 potential migrant workers and their family members will be supported to make a cost-benefit analysis to understand the benefits of migration during the decision making (pre-employment) stage. Almost 12’000 interested migrant workers will be encouraged and referred to undertake skills training through recognized training service providers. Finally, 2’000 cases will be identified and provided with access to effective grievance redressal mechanisms.

Line departments of the Ministry of Expatriates’ welfare, local government institutions, law enforcement, and judiciary members will be some of the key target groups the project will work with.

Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: Men and women labour migrants make an informed decision on migration with a view to choose pathways that maximize economic returns and minimize risks related to migration

Outcome 2: Public and private sectors provide new or improved services needed for safe migration

Outcome 3: Migrants and their family members are able to reduce exposure to external shocks by using remittances more effectively

Results

Expected results:  

  • Output 1.1: Communities at the grassroots level are informed about safe migration processes and consequences of irregular migration and trafficking
  • Output 1.2: Men and women who want to migrate overseas avail pre-employment orientation (PEO) and pre-departure orientation (PDO)
  • Output 1.3: Men and women who want to migrate are referred to effective and necessary skills development support activities.
  • Output 1.4: Male and female labour migrants have access to effective legal support for addressing grievances
  • Output 2.1: TTCs, DEMO and LGI are trained to provide PEO and PDO (incl. skills referrals) services
  • Output 2.2: ADR, law enforcement, BMET arbitration and legal aid organizations are strengthened
  • Output 2.3: Service providers provide migration-sensitive financial literacy and entrepreneurship trainings
  • Output 3.1: Migrant workers and/or their families receive financial literacy training and business linkages
  • Output 3.2: Labour Migrants and their families are using remittances for productive purposes.


Results from previous phases:   The studies conducted under the opening credit of the project helped to better understand the existing grievance redressal mechanism for migrant workers. For these mechanisms to be effective it is necessary to strengthen both alternate dispute resolution mechanisms as well as formal mechanisms. Furthermore, it was found that emphasis needs to be put on working together with recruitment agencies and sub-agents to ensure effective information dissemination. The project interventions have been designed accordingly.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation


Coordination with other projects and actors B-SkillFUL (SDC), Sudokkho (DFID/SDC), SEIP (ADB/SDC), Ashshash (SDC), PROKAS (DFID), STEPS (World Bank) and Skills 21 (ILO/EU), ICMPD (EU/SDC)
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    8’350’955 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    7’352’355
Project phases Phase 1 16.08.2018 - 30.04.2024   (Current phase)