Protect migrant workers' rights, prevent abuse

Hailing the recent government agreement with Saudi Arabia to send 10,000 female domestic helps a month, rights activists and migration experts yesterday urged adequate government measures to protect migrants' rights and prevent abuse by employers and agents.

Addressing a roundtable, they alleged that female migrants were usually deceived by various unscrupulous recruiting agencies before and after recruitment.

"Women Migration: Opportunities and Challenges" was organised in the capital's Brac Centre Inn jointly by the National Alliance for Migrants' Rights, Bangladesh (NAMR, B) and the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).

"We are happy that the government has taken various measures for the protection of migrant workers," said Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, as the special guest.

"But the embassies and the BMET must have negotiated with the employers so that the workers' rights are not violated in any way," she said, stressing that the government should regularly monitor their welfare.

On the agreement, BMET Director General Begum Shamsun Nahar said a number of provisions have been kept including allowing migrants to keep possession of passports and payment of salaries through banks.

Addressing as chief guest, Expatriates' Welfare Secretary Khandker Md Iftekhar Haidar said the migrants did not know where they were going and what their jobs would be.

"The agencies must clarify everything before sending migrant workers abroad," he added.

Sabina of Manikganj who returned from Jordan said she was not paid any salary during her 14-month stay.

"When I used to ask for my wages, my employer used to beat me," she said, alleging that the Bangladesh mission had not responded to her pleas for assistance.

BMET statistics say female migration is increasing gradually with the figure increasing from 11,259 to 76,007 in 10 years till 2014.