[Bangladesh] Migration of uneducated women labourers must stop

A network of 22 women's rights-based organisations has been launched in Bangladesh to strengthen women's safe migration. It has called for an end to the migration of uneducated female labourers saying they are not capable of dealing with adverse conditions in destination countries, The Business Standard reports.

At the launch event of the Alliance for Women Migrant Voices (AWMV) on April 21, there was an emphasis on sending only women who have completed at least an eighth or ninth-grade education as well as receiving training as skilled labour.

"We send completely illiterate female migrant workers which should be stopped at the earliest possible time. This would help reduce the torture on them," Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed said while speaking as the chief guest at the event organised by the Centre for Women and Children Studies (CWCS).

The CWCS is supported by the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and funded by Global Affairs Canada.

According to both government and non-government data, thousands of Bangladeshi woman migrant workers had to return to their home country empty-handed - particularly labourers from the Middle East - after facing torture.

In this context, the AWMV has been launched. It will reportedly work to establish and ensure equal rights and opportunities, address discrimination and violence in the workplace, advocate for enactment and amendment of laws and policies and increase knowledge and awareness among women migrants.  

"No one is as helpless as a female illiterate migrant worker sitting in a plane and heading towards a foreign country. We have to play a strong role here," Imran Ahmed said.

He suggested that the required education level should be class eight or SSC even for the role of domestic help.

The minister stated that no one can take such advantage if these woman workers are half-educated or eight or ninth grade passed. It makes the woman more aware and powerful, the minister added.

Imran Ahmed highlighted the need for sending skilled female workers, especially in service sectors like nursing and caregiving, as there is a huge demand from developed countries like Germany.

According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), more than 10 lakh women migrated to different countries, including the Middle East, from 1991 to 2021. 

Around 80,143 Bangladeshi women employed last year in various foreign destinations accounted for 13 per cent of the total overseas migration, according to the BMET.

MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam said that in many cases the migration of female workers has been found to be unsafe; they face sexual harassment at the workplace, return home without a penny in hand, receive low wages and work extra hours.

"We do not want the female migration to stop completely. But we just want that the migration should not push them into more difficult situations," she said.

Source: The Business Standard

(Quotes via original reporting)

A network of 22 women's rights-based organisations has been launched in Bangladesh to strengthen women's safe migration. It has called for an end to the migration of uneducated female labourers saying they are not capable of dealing with adverse conditions in destination countries, The Business Standard reports.

At the launch event of the Alliance for Women Migrant Voices (AWMV) on April 21, there was an emphasis on sending only women who have completed at least an eighth or ninth-grade education as well as receiving training as skilled labour.

"We send completely illiterate female migrant workers which should be stopped at the earliest possible time. This would help reduce the torture on them," Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed said while speaking as the chief guest at the event organised by the Centre for Women and Children Studies (CWCS).

The CWCS is supported by the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and funded by Global Affairs Canada.

According to both government and non-government data, thousands of Bangladeshi woman migrant workers had to return to their home country empty-handed - particularly labourers from the Middle East - after facing torture.

In this context, the AWMV has been launched. It will reportedly work to establish and ensure equal rights and opportunities, address discrimination and violence in the workplace, advocate for enactment and amendment of laws and policies and increase knowledge and awareness among women migrants.  

"No one is as helpless as a female illiterate migrant worker sitting in a plane and heading towards a foreign country. We have to play a strong role here," Imran Ahmed said.

He suggested that the required education level should be class eight or SSC even for the role of domestic help.

The minister stated that no one can take such advantage if these woman workers are half-educated or eight or ninth grade passed. It makes the woman more aware and powerful, the minister added.

Imran Ahmed highlighted the need for sending skilled female workers, especially in service sectors like nursing and caregiving, as there is a huge demand from developed countries like Germany.

According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), more than 10 lakh women migrated to different countries, including the Middle East, from 1991 to 2021. 

Around 80,143 Bangladeshi women employed last year in various foreign destinations accounted for 13 per cent of the total overseas migration, according to the BMET.

MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam said that in many cases the migration of female workers has been found to be unsafe; they face sexual harassment at the workplace, return home without a penny in hand, receive low wages and work extra hours.

"We do not want the female migration to stop completely. But we just want that the migration should not push them into more difficult situations," she said.

Source: The Business Standard

(Quotes via original reporting)