The harassment being faced by female migrant workers from Bangladesh to several countries of the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, has reached an alarming stage in recent times. According to recent statistics, nearly 203,000 women migrant workers from Bangladesh are working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since 2015 till date, nearly three per cent or 6,000 women have returned to the country after facing various kinds of torture and sexual harassment.
These women, who hail from low and middle income households in rural areas of Bangladesh, often decide to migrate to Middle Eastern countries hoping for a decent income that they can send back to their families. They dream of working in low and mid-level jobs in hotels, modern factories and private firms.
But most returnees have stated that as soon as they landed and met their employers at those countries, their passports were snatched away from them. Most women were forced to work in houses there although they were initially promised jobs in hotels, factories and private firms. In most households there, these women face physical abuse and torture.
Despite the reports of harassment, 83,000 women workers were sent to Saudi Arabia in 2017.
Our government should take necessary steps so that these migrant workers can do their jobs without any fear of harassment or physical torture. Also, alternative destinations for female migrant workers from Bangladesh should be identified soon.
Md Tarek Aziz Bappi,
Department of Political Science,
University of Dhaka
bappimea@gmail.com
Harassment of female migrant workers
FE Team | Published: October 24, 2018 21:00:19
Harassment of female migrant workers
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