EDITORIAL : THE DAILY STAR, BANGLADESH

 

 

Increase in transport fares

Mechanism needed to enforce rates

Coming on the heels of the recent rise in the price of compressed natural gas (CNG), the move by the government to re-fix public transport fares may have been necessitated. But to announce a 22-30 per cent increase in bus fares in one go is sure to raise a question in the public mind. Actually, the burden of fuel price increase would have to be shared by transport owners, operators and commuters. Moreover, the fact remains that government fixed rates are seldom complied with by the transport operators.

When increase was announced on May 12 for CNG, the move was quickly taken advantage of by private bus transport operators, to a point where they came into sharp conflict with commuters at different points. One does not need much persuasion to be reminded of the severe economic problems consumers are already burdened with -- and not just in the matter of fares. For them now to cough up more money for their movements is going to be a burden on them. That's why it's of utmost importance that the government has a mechanism in place to monitor strict enforcement of the rates. In this endeavour, they should engage the transport owners' and operators' associations as well as government agencies concerned in a continuing process of consultation to ensure that arbitrary fares are not charged from the commuters. For, past experience does not seem to offer any encouragement in this regard; as transport operators have generally managed to get away with their acts.

A further consequence of the rise in fares is an increase in prices of essential commodities. The effects of such a hike on citizens' lives are already beginning to be noticed. With no enhancement in their earnings or purchasing power and yet for them to dig deeper into their pockets to keep families in survival mode, middle and low income group people are bound to suffer. Overall, to what extent the authorities are prepared to keep prices under control is a critical question.

But specifically, are the authorities ready to meet the fallout of the fuel price increase?

Manpower sector in a crisis

Find alternative job markets

There is no denying that Bangladeshi workers have made their mark abroad by dint of hard work and diligence. They have been big contributors to the national exchequer remitting huge amount of foreign exchange from countries they work in. Some eight million Bangladeshis went to 110 countries during 1976 -2011 period.

However, a large number of returnees from Libya pose a challenge for the government now. Their rehabilitation has just got underway, but there could be more returnees. There have been problems with Malaysia and Dubai. Malaysia had stopped hiring our workers in 2009; however there is a move to lift the ban soon. But the good news is that the Malaysia has decided to regularise three lakh Bangladeshi workers over the next three months. The authorities must ensure that the workers are not subjected to harassment in the process of regularisation.

To address the problems faced in the manpower export sector, the government ought to prioritise its agenda. It has to gear up the effort to explore alternative job markets in Europe, East Asia and Africa to make up for the predicaments in Japan, ME and North Africa. Health care and hospitality sector could be prospective areas for our skilled workers in Europe.

The government has to ensure adequate training of workers before recruitment. This requires setting up of sufficient number of modern training centres across the country, some with specialised facilities customised to the demand patterns in newer manpower importing countries. Of foremost necessity is keeping migration cost at a minimum as majority of the workers have to meet the cost by selling property or other belongings.

Entire process of exporting manpower should be built around the principle that our workers are appointed legally and able to complete the entire contract period with assured enjoyment of legitimate pay and service conditions. Under no circumstances, they should be forced to or voluntarily become illegal workers. It is not a healthy practice to face deportation and make entreaties for legitimisation.