Lack of info causes exploitation of female migrants: Experts

Migration rights activists at a media briefing on Tuesday said that a significant number of female migrants were exploited in destination countries for lack of proper information before they went for overseas jobs.

The Centre for Women and Children Studies organised the event at the National Press Club.

CWCS president Professor Ishrat Sharmin said that many recruiting agencies did not provide necessary information about the job pattern and employer to the aspirant female migrants.

‘Agencies give the aspirant migrants their passport, contract papers and all other documents at the eleventh hour at the airport before leaving country. As a result, the female migrants cannot consult the issues with their relatives or cannot rethink about migration,’ she said.

She proposed authorities concern to develop a mechanism for free flow of information so that aspirant migrants especially the women can get all necessary information about overseas jobs.

Speakers at the event said the Union Digital Centres might be a good option for such a mechanism.

They said media also can play very vital role too by giving such information to the aspirant migrants.

Advocate Farida Yeasmin, a migration rights activist, said there were a negative propaganda in the society about women migration which is very harmful for female migration.

Media reports on women abuse in destination countries also contributed of making such a public perception said the speakers and called on the media to remain more sensitive while reporting on the topic.

They also asked the government to take measures to check any unwanted incident in destination countries.

CWCS executive member Rita Bhowmick in a presentation said that there were both negative and positive stories in case of women migration. Media mostly focus on negative stories leaves a negative impact on the sector.

CWCS treasurer Nusrat Sultana chaired the event where International Centre for Migration Policy Development country coordinator Mohamamd Ikram Hossain and Manusher Jonno Foundation programme coordinator Mohuya Leya Falia among others spoke.

Bangladesh is one of the top labourer sending countries in the world as the country sends both male and female workers for overseas employment.

According to the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training data, Bangladesh sent 1.44 million workers in different countries particularly in the Middle East countries between January 1991 and April 2020.

Majority of them were migrated to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where a significant number of women faced physical and mental exploitations.