Expatriate workers left in the lurch

The proposed national budget for FY2024-25 has failed to address the continuous sufferings of expatriate workers, according to experts. Despite hopes for new schemes, incentives, and allocations to support migrant workers, the budget prioritized skill development programs like language training. It missed opportunities to increase remittance incentives from the current 2.5% or announce special allocations to tackle issues faced by expatriates. The allocation for the expatriate welfare ministry saw a minor rise but lacks measures to provide substantive relief to this vulnerable workforce.