‘No govt step to protect their rights’

They also criticised the World Trade Organisation for not keeping any provision to protect the rights of migrant workers in Mode-4 of General Agreements on Trades in Services (GATS), which has a provision only for the skilled workers to migrate to the developed countries.

The seminar was organised by the Welfare Association of Repatriated Bangladeshi Employees (Warbe) in association with Actionaid Bangladesh at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

"The government appreciates the remittance of the overseas workers, but does not take any initiatives to protect their rights," said TIM Zahid Hossain, chief of Social Rights and Justice Unit of Actionaid.

There are many unscrupulous agencies and brokers who charge extra money and even give false promises of better salaries, which is why the workers, especially the unskilled female workers feel cheated in foreign lands.

"If the government can ensure their security, the remittance would be double," he said, calling upon the recruiting agencies to be responsible for the protection of female migrants.

Presiding over the seminar Warbe Chairman Syed Saiful Haque laid emphasis on upgraded training on domestic appliances and language of the receiving countries as a means to protect their rights.

Presenting a paper, Warbe Finance Secretary Sheikh Abdullah Al Raji stressed on the post migration management of the female workers whom he termed as the most profitable part of migrant workers, as they require comparatively less money for migration, but can save and send more.

Bangladesh Obhibashi Mahila Sramik Association (Bomsa) President Lily Jahan, General Secretary Sheik Romana, and Jago Nari Foundation President Nurunnahar Mary also spoke at the seminar.