Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said on Tuesday that the government is committed to sending workers abroad through legal channels and has taken a tough stance against illegal migration.

He made the remarks during a courtesy call from Michael Miller, the European Union Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Bangladesh, at the minister's office, according to a press release from the ministry.

The minister said a roundtable involving migration stakeholders, organisations and journalists would be held soon to raise public awareness about legal migration.

He said the licences of 49 recruiting agencies have so far been cancelled for involvement in crimes and irregularities, including illegal migration. Offices of several agencies have been sealed, and directives have been issued to conduct regular mobile court drives against violators.

During the meeting, Ambassador Miller said a large share of Bangladesh's remittances comes from EU countries. Referring to the government's target of sending 10 million workers abroad over the next five years, he sought details on the licensing and regulatory process for agencies that send large numbers of workers.

He also expressed interest in working jointly with the ministry on ethical migration, encouraging legal migration and curbing the trend of going abroad at high cost.

The ambassador said the EU would work on "talent partnerships" and other measures to ensure that Bangladeshi workers can enter Europe legally. He also reiterated the EU's continued support for bringing a European Training Foundation to Bangladesh and for the social and economic reintegration of returnee migrant workers.

Miller also laid particular emphasis on the freedom to form trade unions or associations under the amended Bangladesh Labour Act, bringing the EPZ law in line with the general labour law, eliminating child labour and conducting regular factory inspections.

Additional Secretary Md Saiful Haque Chowdhury said specific criteria have been set for selecting and regulating recruiting agencies. Several inspection committees have also been formed to visit agencies, examine their operations on the ground and submit reports.

Citing ongoing legal migration programmes with Italy, he urged the EU to take up various projects to raise awareness. He also said activities under the World Bank-funded RAISE project for reintegrating returnee workers are continuing.

Also present at the meeting were First Secretary of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh Laura Cartanya Llach, Additional Secretary Ahmadul Haque, Joint Secretaries Debjit Singha and Md Shahidul Islam Chowdhury, and other senior ministry officials.