A new joint coalition of trade unions (TUs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) was launched on Monday to ensure rights, dignity, safety and welfare of the country's migrant workers.
The coalition - Trade Union-Civil Society Action Alliance (TUCSAA) - is expected to re-integrate and strengthen further the demands for the rights and welfare of migrant workers, organisers said at an event at the National Press Club in the city.
The TUCSAA organised the launching event in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and with support of the Switzerland embassy in Dhaka. The proposal for the alliance was made at a two-day skill development workshop on June 25.
Speaking at the inauguration, Naimul Ahsan Jewel, TUCSAA Convening Committee member, said the Alliance is a joint initiative of TUs and CSOs with the primary goal to identify the overall problems of migrant workers and focus on skill development.
He noted that Bangladeshi female migrant workers earn only 14 cents per hour, whereas workers in India or Nepal earn up to 42 cents per hour.
Shakil Akhter Chowdhury, the Alliance Convener, highlighted the living standards, realities and problems of Bangladeshi workers abroad that included complications related to passport and financial hardship.
Bangladesh's economy depends on the US$30 billion remittance, sent by a total of 13 million workers, he said, terming the joint initiative a timely one to make their lives easier and more dignified.
Presenting her keynote paper, Jasiya Khatoon, TUCSAA member secretary, said migrant workers are facing a number of problems, including cheating, discrimination and harassment, while female migrants are facing more difficulties and discriminations.
"A number of organisations are working in a fragmented way, which needs collaboration," she said, adding that the Alliance can meet the need for a unified voice as a collective platform for promoting coordination, transparency and accountability in the migration governance sector.
Munni_fe@yahoo.com
