Women migrant workers seek judicial process against harassment

Bangladeshi Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA) has advocated for an 'international judicial process' to reclaim arrears owed to women migrant workers facing wage theft and harassment in their job destination countries.
At a press conference in Dhaka on Monday, women migrant workers also called for the prosecution of the accused employers and the provision of compensation to the victims.
According to the Migrant Forum in Asia report, nearly 2,000 workers from five labour-sending countries, including Bangladesh, encountered a loss of about US$19.2 million in wages due to various tactics employed by employers.
Among women workers, many face the victimisation of wage theft, leading to difficulties in sending their full income back home.
The situation worsens for women migrant workers as they often work in multiple households without enjoying any leave and are deprived of proper food and work conditions.
To address this, the Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association suggested bolstering the diplomatic efforts of Bangladeshi embassies to safeguard the rights of migrant workers abroad.
Moreover, the association called upon the government to ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions 189 and 190 and to enact necessary laws to protect domestic helpers both within the country and overseas.

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