Vietnam to investigate Bangladeshi brokers sending workers to the nation

The Vietnam government has ordered police to investigate brokers from Bangladesh and ensure security for Bangladeshi workers in Vietnam, the foreign ministry said in a statement yesterday.

The move comes three days after 17 Bangladeshis traveled to Hanoi from Vung Tau, around 1,677 kilometres away from Hanoi, and had been sitting by a roadside some 200 yards off the Bangladesh embassy, demanding repatriation to Bangladesh.

"The Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam issued an order to Ho Chi Minh City Police, Binh Duong Police and Vung Tau Police to investigate the brokers from Bangladesh and ensure security for foreign workers," it said.

Vietnam police are working with local companies which sponsored their visas to take responsibility of the 17 and take them back to Vung Tau City, give them accommodation, jobs and facilitate their repatriation when commercial flights resume, the foreign ministry said.

Talking to The Daily Star over phone, one of the workers said they had come to Vietnam early this month but were hardly given any jobs. Recently, their Bangladeshi brokers cut off water pipe connections to their accommodation in Vung Tau and threatened them of grave consequences after some of the workers had spoken to the media.

"We all have BMET [Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training] cards. We were promised good jobs... We faced various forms of exploitation by Bangladeshi brokers. We want to return home," said Faridul Islam, one of the 17 Bangladeshis.

When contacted, Bangladesh Ambassador to Vietnam Samina Naz said Vietnam authorities instructed the company of these 17 people to take responsibility.

"The company representative called us with assurances that they would take them back to work even though they fled the company, breaching company rules. The company will provide their return fare [to Vung Tau], provide accommodation and food. They have passports, visas and work permits with temporary residence cards," she said.

The foreign ministry today said the Bangladesh government is committed to upholding the rights of Bangladeshi migrant workers abroad and provide all necessary assistance. They also said the Bangladesh mission in Hanoi has been supporting Bangladesh nationals within the legal framework of Bangladesh and Vietnam.

It said all international flights were suspended in Vietnam from March 25, 2020, but the group of 17 sitting in front of the embassy are demanding immediate repatriation. The ministry said most of them went to Vietnam as visitors and not as legal workers -- a claim that contradicts that of the 17 Bangladeshis.

"The Embassy informed the 17 people of the employer's commitment and assurance of the Government of Vietnam but they are not cooperating for unknown reasons."

The foreign ministry also said Bangladeshi nationals who are demanding return flights to Bangladesh at government expense since July 3 are engaged in negative propaganda "unjustifiably with the help of social media and some overseas TV channels".

"They appear determined not to go back to their workplace, sticking to their one-point demand for immediate return to Bangladesh at government expense."

The foreign ministry categorically stated that while the government is mindful of promoting expatriate welfare particularly in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, it will not encourage any activities by the expatriate workers that is detrimental to the image of Bangladesh and the excellent relations existing between Bangladesh and Vietnam.