The story goes back almost two years ago to be exact one year and nine months. The location was Zia International Airport and the time was 11 am.
A Bangladeshi woman labor, from Saudi Arab came back with her child on a flight of Saudi Airlines. She was sexually harassed and was allegedly raped by Saudi Police, during her days in the prison of Saudi Arabia. Later, with the help of combined forces she handed over the child to a driver. This kind of scene is really hard to observe.
Remittance is the second largest sector by which Government of Bangladesh earns foreign currency. In this large flow of remittance, a prominent portion is being sent by the Bangladeshi female workers, working in different countries.
In 1997, a ban was imposed by the Bangladeshi government to send Bangladeshi female workers to work abroad. The ban was put because of different unwanted and unsocial activities which were done to the female workers of Bangladesh.
But statistics shows a different scenario. Statistics shows that some one lakh eleven thousand and three hundred seventy one Bangladeshi female workers are working in different countries in the world. Beside that, thirty eight thousand and two hundred and eight female workers came back in Bangladesh over the last fem months. This information has been taken from the question answer session in Parliament of Bangladesh at 9th June, 2009.
Most of the Bangladeshi female workers, working in abroad are working as maid in households. They are going to different countries to earn a little more and also to get rid of torture by their husbands and family members. Just because of illiteracy, they have to suffer a lot as they are blackmailed many dishonest brokers.
Recently, many magazines reported about the suffering of Bangladeshi female workers in Lebanon. Employment and Training Bureau stated that some eleven thousand two hundred seventy six female workers went to different countries over the last eight months. Out of that, seven thousand ninety five went to Lebanon. Even they were in promised to wok in garments industry, but they were mostly given the job of maids in households.
As there is no Bangladeshi High Commission in Lebanon the workers do not have any place to complain about their sufferings. Zafrin Banu, (name changed) a worker who came back from Lebanon said she was tortured with rocks and even with electric shocks, if she did not do what she was ordered by her mentor. Later, with the help of Law and Justice Council she came back to Bangladesh on 24th May, 2009.
There are 808 recruiting agency in the country which sends female workers to abroad. But only 8 to 10 agencies send workers via Bangladesh Government. A set of rules were approved in 2007, which stated the condition of sending female workers abroad. Under this rules the government is focusing on factors such as training, a demand note attested by Bangladeshi Embassy and a letter which stated the deal between the agencies of two countries.
Mr Elias Ahmed, secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, said that a training is been given to all the Bangladeshi female workers, before sending abroad for work. He said that he himself observed this training at the training centers.
Under this training, a worker is given some basic knowledge about foreign languages and they also trained them for using household’s electronic goods. In this training session, they were also been aware of the problems they might face in foreign countries. They are also been informed about their duties and the salaries they are going to receive.
They were provided with useful telephone numbers, so that they can contact them if they face any kind of difficulties in foreign countries. Mr Elias Ahmed also said they only approve the permission of people who pass in this training. That is why, their skill is being valued by the foreigners in abroad.
The Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment has already decided to send one female officer in Lebanon, who could look after the problem of Bangladeshi female workers.
Mr Golam Mostafa, the secretary of the Bangladesh Manpower Exporting Association, said it is safe for the woman to work in nursing or garments sector in abroad. He also mentioned about the fake agencies that are sending workers abroad and not giving them proper jobs. He said the workers must cross check their visas with the Embassies to avoid fraud. He thinks the government should support other recruiting agencies. He also requested the government to compensate the female workers who were tortured and had to come back.
The deputy director of Bangladesh Women Lawyers Association, Advocate Kohinoor Begum, said as there is no written deals, different recruiting agencies in the country are pushing female workers towards harsh cruelty. She thinks the government should keep an eye on this and start strict monitoring. She thinks, if local government provides training to local females, who are interested in working abroad, this problem might come to an end. Beside that, government should start providing license to other agencies. According to her, as manpower is the second largest sector providing foreign currencies, government should provide better facilities and protection to the Bangladeshi female workers working abroad.
