A/HRC/53/26/Add.3 cash incentives and skills development for returnee migrants. However, many migrants continue to lack knowledge of those initiatives and do not have access to support services, including those provided by the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board. Many migrants who return home due to the completion of their contracts continue to face difficulty in reintegrating economically and psychologically into society. Successful reintegration of returning migrants continues to need prioritization, and reliable and updated data on returnees need to be collected. E. Migrant worker injuries and deaths 56. The Special Rapporteur was concerned to receive information on the deaths of migrant workers. Bangladesh reportedly received the remains of over 45,000 migrant workers who had lost their lives abroad between 2008 and 2022, mainly in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Reportedly, the main countries where deaths have been reported include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, with Saudi Arabia reportedly having the highest number of deaths and Qatar being highlighted due to injuries and deaths in the context of the recent World Cup of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 57. Many migrant deaths are attributed to medical reasons, while others are unexplained. A significant number are women. The causes of these deaths are often not properly investigated, and the consequences are devastating for families left behind without their main income earner. The Government has implemented initiatives to provide support to grieving families, including financial support, but many host countries do not provide any means of compensation for deceased migrant workers and thus do not fulfil their duties under law as employers. 58. The Special Rapporteur also received information regarding missing migrant workers and the challenges faced by families in Bangladesh in attempting to locate their relatives abroad. F. Role of countries of destination and cooperation 59. The Special Rapporteur notes with concern that ongoing human rights abuses continue in countries of destination for Bangladeshis and urges the use of existing regional and global processes comprising both migrant origin countries and host countries to collectively work towards strengthening protection for migrants. Although memorandums of understanding and bilateral agreements exist between countries of origin and countries of destination, uneven bargaining power between these countries result in weak regulation, oversight and compensation regimes for migrants who are victims of human rights abuses. Bargaining power strongly favours countries of destination, whereas Bangladesh, with its heavy reliance on remittances, is often in a disadvantaged position to push for better regulation and stronger ethical recruitment processes. 60. Many initiatives have been undertaken by Bangladesh to improve protection for migrants abroad, while a number of countries of destination have significant issues with protection and access to justice for migrants. Even when trade unions in Bangladesh were prepared to assist migrant workers abroad, an absence of trade unions or other relevant counterparts in countries of destination hinders the ability to find solutions for migrant workers who are suffering. Lack of legislative and institutional governance over subagents and employers in countries of destination, along with the problem of impunity, means that migrant workers’ rights to protection are not guaranteed once they leave to work in those countries. G. Consular assistance 61. Although Bangladesh has consular services, which provide support to migrant workers through their labour units, and include allocated attachés and other personnel in various missions, there is still a need to strengthen such services, increase the number of staff GE.23-08750 9