PM urged to ratify UNHRC to ensure migrant workers' rights
Friday, 10 December 2010
FE Report
Speakers at a press conference urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a declaration of ratification of UN Human Rights Convention (UNHRC) 1990 to ensure human rights of migrant workers on the occasion of International Migrant Day to be observed on December 18.
"Some 44 states have ratified and 15 states have signed on the protection of the rights of all workers and members of their families. Bangladesh signed on October 07, 1998. 12 years is enough time to ratify", speakers said at the conference.
Speakers mentioned that more than seven million Bangladeshi migrant workers are working in different countries of the world. In 2009-10 fiscal year government earned $10 billion as remittance. But the issues like real wage, work environment, health rights of the migrant workers are ignored, claimed the speakers.
The speakers expressed concern that if Bangladesh ratifies the convention, it would not only ensure the human rights but also would play an important role in increasing remittance flow.
To observe the International Human Rights Day, Welfare Association for the Rights of Bangladeshi Emigrants (WARBE) Foundation along with other partner organisations organised a press conference on "Ensuring Human Rights of Migrant Workers through Ratification of UN Convention 1990" at the National press club Thursday.
Justice Nijamul Haque Nasim was the chief guest of the conference. Ms. Sumaiya Islam, director, Bangladesh Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA), Dr Uttam Kumar Das, deputy director, South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (SAILS), Dr C R Abrar, executive director, Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) were present as special guests.
Ms Hasina Inam, country representative of Bangladesh DanChurchAid presided over the conference.
Key note paper was presented by Syed Saiful Haque, chairman WARBE.
A human chain was formed by the conference participants. They submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office about the matter.
Speakers at a press conference urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a declaration of ratification of UN Human Rights Convention (UNHRC) 1990 to ensure human rights of migrant workers on the occasion of International Migrant Day to be observed on December 18.
"Some 44 states have ratified and 15 states have signed on the protection of the rights of all workers and members of their families. Bangladesh signed on October 07, 1998. 12 years is enough time to ratify", speakers said at the conference.
Speakers mentioned that more than seven million Bangladeshi migrant workers are working in different countries of the world. In 2009-10 fiscal year government earned $10 billion as remittance. But the issues like real wage, work environment, health rights of the migrant workers are ignored, claimed the speakers.
The speakers expressed concern that if Bangladesh ratifies the convention, it would not only ensure the human rights but also would play an important role in increasing remittance flow.
To observe the International Human Rights Day, Welfare Association for the Rights of Bangladeshi Emigrants (WARBE) Foundation along with other partner organisations organised a press conference on "Ensuring Human Rights of Migrant Workers through Ratification of UN Convention 1990" at the National press club Thursday.
Justice Nijamul Haque Nasim was the chief guest of the conference. Ms. Sumaiya Islam, director, Bangladesh Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA), Dr Uttam Kumar Das, deputy director, South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (SAILS), Dr C R Abrar, executive director, Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) were present as special guests.
Ms Hasina Inam, country representative of Bangladesh DanChurchAid presided over the conference.
Key note paper was presented by Syed Saiful Haque, chairman WARBE.
A human chain was formed by the conference participants. They submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office about the matter.