ROLE OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT PROMOTERS AND THEIR PROBLEMS

The population of Pakistan is 140 million, which is increasing at an annual growth rate of 2.26%. Although the growth rate has declined during the last two decades, yet, it is one of the highest in the world, whereas the Labour force estimated is 40.56 million of which 33.94 million (83.68%) are males and 6.62 million (16.32%) are females. The overall Labour force participation rate is about 29%. 37.05million persons (91.35%) of total labour force are employed. Whereas about 3.51 million persons of total labour force are un employed. They Constitute 8.65% of the Labour force.

Pakistan being a developing country is confronting with, among others, the increasing problem of un-employment caused by rapid increase both in the population and labour force which has jolted the whole economy.

The reduction of unemployment is the main objective of the Government, which has introduced such policies, wherein, measures have been taken with a view to release the pressure of unemployment. In this direction, the emigration is one of the significant and immediate steps, which may help in eradicating the menace of unemployment. 

The pressure of unemployment, though not possible to be rooted out absolutely in the country yet can be mitigated to a great ambit by promoting overseas employment for Pakistani surplus work force.

Migration is not a new phenomenon. It started after the creation of Hazrat Adam (A. S) when   his descendants began to spread and scatter in this known cosmos.

History of mankind is replete with the examples of people migrating from a country to another country either for permanent settlement or for a short duration in search of better social and economic life, contrary to historical migration in remote past when there were few checks on the movements of the people leaving one country for an other owing to the reason of  better quality of life. But the present migration between the countries is not open-ended. There are strong state interventions usually in the form of statutory and regulatory measures both in the country of origin and destination of migrants.

Pakistan has remained an attractive labour market for foreign manpower desiring countries. Prior to 70’s the outflow of Pakistani workers was toward Europe, USA, Canada and mainly to UK.

In the early 70’s, the upsurge of developmental activities and booming economies in the advancing countries, in general and oil rich countries of Gulf and Middle East, in particular, which were and are still deficient in manpower resources paved the way for a country having surplus labour economy like Pakistan to ponder over and make effective and constructive polices to capture the labour markets of manpower needy countries.    

As such, in order to handle the export of manpower in a legal way and systematic manner, the department of Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment as an attached department of Labour Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Division was set up on 1st October, 1971, under the directive of Government of Pakistan.  Bureau started dealing with the export of Pakistani manpower under the Emigration Act 1922 and rules 1959 which were, later on, replaced and substituted by the Emigration Ordinance 1979 and Rules framed there under. The objectives and functions of the Bureau, as defined in the Emigration Ordinance 1979 and Rules made there under, are to control, regulate, facilitate and monitor the emigration besides looking after the interests of such emigrants.

As many as 3.27 million Pakistanis have proceeded abroad for employment duly registered with the offices of Protector of emigrants during the period from 1971 to 2003 (up to June). The Overseas Employment Promoters, in private sector are playing a vital role in overseas employment. Almost one thousand Overseas Employment Promoters at present, are dealing with export of manpower. The Overseas Employment Promoters are granted OEP licence  enabling them to proceed to non traditional manpower seeking countries in the world in general and traditional  manpower needy countries in the Middle East in particular for having contracts with the leading employers of the aforesaid region to procure maximum manpower demands for Pakistani workforce. The Overseas Employment Promoters after hectic efforts bring demands and report to the concerned regional office called Protectorate of Emigrants for grant of permission for the recruitment of Pakistani workforce. After the permission is granted, the demand is published in the leading newspaper. Ultimately the employer himself or his representative or the Overseas Employment Promoter himself on behalf of the employer completes the process of recruitment. Thereafter the selected and recruited persons are got registered with the relevant Protector of Emigrants. At the time of registration and the intending migrants are fully briefed about the terms and conditions of the Foreign Service Agreement, Rules & Regulation and other important  information of the host countries. It will not be out of place to mention here that 3.27 million Pakistani workers have got employment abroad during the period  1971-2003 (upto June)  whereas 80% overseas employment has been managed by the licenced Overseas Employment Promoters.

The OEPs, of course have a key role in reducing the pressure of unemployment at home by promoting foreign employment as well as increasing much needed home remittance for the development of economy of the  country. Owing to the substantial contribution of emigrants, the home remittances increased from US $ 2389.05 million to US $ 4236.85 million during the period 2001-2002 to 2002-2003 (upto June). The workers remittances no doubt have become the 2nd biggest live saver of the country’s economy. All this is due to paramount role of Licenced Overseas Employment Promoters, which can’t be ignored. It would be worth noticing to mentioning here that the licenced Overseas Employment Promoters are serving as a back bone in the progress of the country.

The Licensed Overseas Employment Promoters, playing very important role in maximization of export of manpower, are facing the following multifarious problems.

a. In the beginning Promoters used to get commission in addition to air-tickets for emigrants and other service charges. They were not only stripped of commission but prospective employers refused to pay air passage to emigrants. Then a stage came when they started taking price of visa.

 b.  Employers and sometimes intermediaries prepare and hand over fake documents i.e. Power of Attorney and demand letters, in the name of promoter and charge them for it; Employers place the same demand with more than one Promoter and charge cost of visa from all Promoters whereas demand materializes only in one case;

d.  Work visas are some times without any job or work;

e.  Employers promise high wages and better working conditions whereas position is in contrary, in some   cases.

f.  The employer places demand for advertisement to collect C.Vs in order to calculate cost of labour     needed in preparation of bidding documents and actual demand after maturity is diverted to some other country or some other Promoter;

g. Cost of advertisement is generally not paid by the employer which is a total loss to the promoters;

h. The Overseas Employment Promoters are not given business visa to explore job opportunities.

i.  F.I.A is hampering in the process of emigration while creating harassments by conducting raids on the offices of  licenced Overseas Employment Promoters without the permission of the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, the dealing department.