When hopes are dashed
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Md. Fazlur Rahman
They went abroad in the hope of materialising their dreams of job, better pay and a descent life. But they have come back home with their hope shattered.
Md. Faisal Ahmed of Dhaka, Md Saidur of Savar and Obaidul Kader of Gazipur -three youths, in their mid 20s, have recently returned from Malaysia after being cheated by their recruiting agents.
They have narrated the story their sufferings they endured during their days in the South-east Asian country while talking to the FE.
Faisal arrived in Malaysia in March 2007. He was promised a Tk 25,000 job in a plastic company by the recruiting agency for a three-year period.
"At best, I could earn Tk 11,000 a month even after working for long hours. And before completing the second year of employment there I was sacked," he said.
Faisal said he went there in exchange for Tk 220,000, much higher than the government fixed rate of Tk 84,000 per worker as immigration fee.
Obaidul Kader who hails from Kapasia under Gazipur reached Malaysia in December 2007, which cost him Tk 180,000. His was offered a three-year contract and a daily payment of 18 ringgit. But Kader, who used to work in a company that manufactures gloves, received only 15 ringgit.
"But, the employer gave the wage after working extra four to five hours. They did not pay us for the extra work," he said.
"I was without work for one month before returning home. My company showed no reason for sending me back home."
Saidur returned home on March 13 this year, four days after Malaysia cancelled visas for more than 55,000 Bangladeshi jobseekers, which were approved back in 2007, citing the impact of global economic recession.
He spent Tk 245,000 to secure a job in Malaysia. But he returned home empty handed after seeing his dreams dashed by brokers in almost two years.
Like Faisal, Saidur also went to Malaysia through the same recruiting agency. So, he had faced similar ordeals.
"We had to work for 12-13 hours a day. But we did not receive anything for the extra work," Saidur said.
But the agony is he did not have regular work. On average, they found work for 10-12 days a month.
"My factory had more workers than it needed."
"We were out of work for six months. Our employers even harassed and beat us when we demanded work, and money to buy foods."
"Even they did not allow us to leave Malaysia in those six months. We have heard that Bangladeshi recruiting agencies told them not to send us back as this will tarnish their image at home and they may be forced to pay compensation to them."
Before flying to Malaysia, Saidur worked in a car workshop. But now he is totally unemployed. "How can I start doing something here as my family and I have nothing to reinvest?" he asked.
"My parents had to sell land for making arrangement to send me abroad. They did that in the hope that they might one day recover the land when I would send money to them. But that did not happen. We have lost land and means of livelihood. My family has nothing to reinvest in me."
After returning home, Saidur contacted Win International at Fakirerpool, the recruiting agency that had sent him to Malaysia.
"Before leaving country, their officials categorically told us that we will be able to save Tk 10,000-20,000 a month after meeting all expenditures. But in reality we did not have regular work."
Saidur said now those officials denied having made such promises. They say nothing when we start talking about compensation.
They went abroad in the hope of materialising their dreams of job, better pay and a descent life. But they have come back home with their hope shattered.
Md. Faisal Ahmed of Dhaka, Md Saidur of Savar and Obaidul Kader of Gazipur -three youths, in their mid 20s, have recently returned from Malaysia after being cheated by their recruiting agents.
They have narrated the story their sufferings they endured during their days in the South-east Asian country while talking to the FE.
Faisal arrived in Malaysia in March 2007. He was promised a Tk 25,000 job in a plastic company by the recruiting agency for a three-year period.
"At best, I could earn Tk 11,000 a month even after working for long hours. And before completing the second year of employment there I was sacked," he said.
Faisal said he went there in exchange for Tk 220,000, much higher than the government fixed rate of Tk 84,000 per worker as immigration fee.
Obaidul Kader who hails from Kapasia under Gazipur reached Malaysia in December 2007, which cost him Tk 180,000. His was offered a three-year contract and a daily payment of 18 ringgit. But Kader, who used to work in a company that manufactures gloves, received only 15 ringgit.
"But, the employer gave the wage after working extra four to five hours. They did not pay us for the extra work," he said.
"I was without work for one month before returning home. My company showed no reason for sending me back home."
Saidur returned home on March 13 this year, four days after Malaysia cancelled visas for more than 55,000 Bangladeshi jobseekers, which were approved back in 2007, citing the impact of global economic recession.
He spent Tk 245,000 to secure a job in Malaysia. But he returned home empty handed after seeing his dreams dashed by brokers in almost two years.
Like Faisal, Saidur also went to Malaysia through the same recruiting agency. So, he had faced similar ordeals.
"We had to work for 12-13 hours a day. But we did not receive anything for the extra work," Saidur said.
But the agony is he did not have regular work. On average, they found work for 10-12 days a month.
"My factory had more workers than it needed."
"We were out of work for six months. Our employers even harassed and beat us when we demanded work, and money to buy foods."
"Even they did not allow us to leave Malaysia in those six months. We have heard that Bangladeshi recruiting agencies told them not to send us back as this will tarnish their image at home and they may be forced to pay compensation to them."
Before flying to Malaysia, Saidur worked in a car workshop. But now he is totally unemployed. "How can I start doing something here as my family and I have nothing to reinvest?" he asked.
"My parents had to sell land for making arrangement to send me abroad. They did that in the hope that they might one day recover the land when I would send money to them. But that did not happen. We have lost land and means of livelihood. My family has nothing to reinvest in me."
After returning home, Saidur contacted Win International at Fakirerpool, the recruiting agency that had sent him to Malaysia.
"Before leaving country, their officials categorically told us that we will be able to save Tk 10,000-20,000 a month after meeting all expenditures. But in reality we did not have regular work."
Saidur said now those officials denied having made such promises. They say nothing when we start talking about compensation.