For the past several years there have been many reported incidents of female migrant workers from Bangladesh being mistreated and abused in some of the labour recipient countries, particularly in the Gulf region.
An International Organization of Migration (IOM) study also depicted how two out of every three Bangladeshi female migrant workers have been abused - in one form or another. They have long been subjected to either physical harassment, restricted mobility in their workplaces, or wages being withheld.
The good news now is that United Nations Special Rapporteur Siobhán Mullally, whose mandate is to keep track of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, has started engaging with Gulf countries so that they can play an active role in preventing incidents of abuse of female migrants.
Now on a weeklong visit to Bangladesh, Siobhán Mullally told a press at a briefing in Dhaka yesterday that migrant domestic workers are particularly very vulnerable, and that she is engaging with Gulf countries so that they strongly monitor the employment contracts of foreign female workers, their rights, and work environment.
“There is a lot of attention being given to labour migration. We need much more focused attention on ensuring opportunities for women and ensuring protection of their rights as workers,” she said.
The UN special rapporteur laid emphasis on stronger monitoring at all stages of the recruitment process, including those who are making job offers, what is happening on arrival, their protection, and monetary issues.
“More efforts are needed to regulate and hold accountable recruitment agencies and intermediaries who exploit migrant workers in vulnerable situations through high recruitment fees and deceptive job offers,” she said.
Mullally, a former member of the Council of European Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, also expressed her concern over Bangladeshi women and children falling prey to cross border trafficking, with many being subjected to sexual abuse in India.
She was unable to provide a specific number of victims but urged the Bangladesh authorities to do more in combating trafficking in persons both within the country and also across the border.
The UN expert said receiving countries have obligations under international laws, and it is absolutely critical that women migrant workers continue to have opportunities for employment without discrimination.
She appreciated many measures taken by Bangladesh over the years in combating human trafficking, but quickly added that much more needs to be done.
Mullally, who is also an ex-commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, was very appreciative of Bangladesh hosting over a million Rohingya refugees, persecuted and driven out of Myanmar, and urged the international community to render more support for the Rohingyas.
She said around 90 Rohingya refugees became victims of trafficking during the July-September period this year.
