Bangladeshi workers

The migrants have been in Vanuatu, where they were taken with the promise of work, since November.

Many have refused to return to Bangladesh, and they've since been living off rations in Port Vila.

But Bangladesh's high commissioner to Australia, Sufiur Rahman, said the majority of them are now willing to return.

He said he's expecting about 70 to return to Bangladesh in different phases, starting in about a week.

But the International Organisation for Migration, which is arranging flights, said there are no confirmed departures yet.

A group of 101 migrants who are under Vanuatu police protection in the capital Port Vila are hoping for third country resettlement.

A spokesperson for the men, Shahin Khan, said they met with a representative from Bangladesh's High Commission in Australia on Monday.

He said almost all the migrants - some of whom fear they will be killed by loan sharks in Bangladesh - told the official they don't want to return home.