Ensure rights of women migrant workers, says President Abdul Hamid

President M Abdul Hamid has asked all concerned to be more cautious while sending women workers abroad in order to ensure their rights and better working environment there.

He also called on the authorities concerned to take necessary steps so that the outbound Bangladeshi workers are not harassed and cheated by any quarters.

The president made the call in a written statement read out at a programme marking the 'International Migrants Day' at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city on Tuesday.

The president was scheduled to attend the event as the chief guest. As he could not join the programme, Director General of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training Salim Reza read out the president's statement.

The Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (EWOE) Ministry organised the event.

In his statement, President Hamid said women workers often face harassments at their workplaces. So, the recruiting agencies should be selective while sending women workers abroad.

He said about 0.6 million Bangladeshi women workers went abroad with jobs so far. In Bangladesh, half of the population is women. So, it is necessary to create more overseas employment opportunities for them.

The president also stressed the need to create more skilled workers and give them proper training on laws and the environment in the job destination countries.

He also suggested deploying experienced and committed staffs in the Bangladesh missions abroad.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain presided over the programme while secretary in charge of the ministry Rownaq Jahan , additional secretary Aminul Islam, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) chief of mission Giorgi Gigauri and Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) president Benjir Ahmed also spoke.

In the second session of the programme, a debate competition on the subject of 'Safe Migration is Possible through Increase Awareness' was organised by the Debate for Democracy.

The event was moderated by Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron, chairman of the Debate for Democracy.

Nojibur Rahman, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, was the chief guest at the debate programme.

The ministry also organised a cultural programme to mark the day.

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