DHAKA, March 21: Overseas going workers will soon have mandatory insurance coverage from their employers so they
get necessary financial support in case of emergencies such as accident, sickness or urgent repatriation to homeland.

   "The implementation of mandatory insurance was discussed in Geneva meeting and a proposal to get hiring countries comply with the demand for insurance scheme for workers would be placed in Manila conference on April 19, 2012," Engineer Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Minister for Labour and Employment and Expatriates'
Welfare and Overseas Employment told journalists today.

   The minister, prior to a meeting with labour attaches at his office, said labour attaches had already been advised to have discussions with overseas employers to provide their hired workers insurance coverage.

   The minister said the government was committed to protect the rights of workers going abroad and the proposed mandatory insurance would be an effective tool to this effect.

   He said the government was also actively considering not allowing any women worker go abroad without insurance
confirmation.

   "No woman worker will be allowed to go abroad without insurance confirmation from their overseas employers," the
minister said.

   Many countries in South and Southeast already launched campaign so foreign countries that hire workers must provide their employees a certification of insurance.

   Bangladesh with around 80 lakh expatriates working in around 150 countries joined the campaign so the workers can be provided with better services while working abroad.