Six-member cell to protect women migrant workers

The government in December last year formed a protection cell for female workers travelling abroad for employments, Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Imran Ahmad told parliament yesterday.

In a scripted answer, he also said a vigilance task force comprising officials of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry and different agents will oversee fortnightly the process of female migrant workers’ going abroad, and report to the secretary of the respective ministry.

Action will be taken in accordance with the report to ensure safety of Bangladeshi female workers abroad -- including in Saudi Arabia, said the minister.

Imran told the House that over 66.3 lakh trained workers were employed abroad in the last 10 years from 2009, who have sent $153.13 billion in remittance.

In reply to lawmakers’ queries, the minister also said a total of 9.2 lakh female workers have gone abroad in the last 28 years since 1991.

The minister said Bangladesh has started sending manpower to different new destinations including Cambodia, Romania, Poland and China. 

Replying to a query from Jatiya Party MP Salma Islam, he said since 2009, the government has been providing skills development training under 55 trades, through 70 training centres including six institutes of marine technology and 64 technical training centres.

Besides, training is being imparted in five languages including Arabic, Korean, English, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin) and Japanese, Imran said.