Hold brokers accountable
Authorities have to hold brokers accountable after bringing them under the purview of law, to ensure safe and orderly migration of women workers, said activists yesterday.
Errant recruiting agencies should also be punished for bringing misery to the lives of female migrant workers, they said at a seminar marking International Migrants Day.
Karmojibi Nari organised the seminar in association with Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and UKaid, at the capital’s Jatiya Press Club.
In most cases, female migrant workers seek overseas employment through brokers and remain unaware of recruiting agencies, said WARBE Development Foundation Chairman Syed Saiful Haque. However, the country’s law does not recognise brokers, he said.
Due to the dependency on brokers, female migrant workers find it hard to get legal assistance after facing abuse, said Hassan Imam, managing director of Center for Development Communications (DEVCOM) Ltd.
Abused migrant workers often do not have required documents with them because of lack of awareness. This makes it hard for them to get justice, said MJF Programme Manager Sarowat Binte Islam.
Lawyer Uttam Kumar Das said “lack of coherence” between the law for migrant workers and the one to combat human trafficking is apparent at present. This should be fixed, he said.
Mili Akter, a Saudi Arabia-returnee worker, said she went to the Gulf country as domestic worker through a broker in 2016 to change her fortune. She alleged her employers tortured her for trivial matters, and she fled the employer’s house to save her life.
Addressing the event as chief guest, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation Chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said authorities must ensure safe and dignified migration of female workers. Workers have to be skilled enough as well.
Lawmaker and Karmojibi Nari Founder President Shirin Akhter said, “While recruiting foreign workers, the receiving state, its government and employer must do it in line with international labour laws.”
Karmojibi Nari Executive Director Rokeya Rafique also spoke at the event.
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