Reflection on Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

22 March, 2018

Parliamentarians Caucus on Migration and Development on Thursday organized the “Hearing on Migrants Rights Violation for Ensuring Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration‘’ at the Parliament Members’ Club in the city. Deputy Speaker of the parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah, MP who spoke at the hearing as the chief guest said that the middlemen were getting more benefited by charging high cost of migration from migrant workers seeking jobs overseas. ‘In the past, if any person managed to go abroad with job could make brick-building at village. Now more buildings are being built by brokers,’ he said. The Deputy Speaker said that there were many cases of the Bangladeshi migrant workers who were getting cheated with the job visas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. Fazle Rabbi Miah said the country’s migrant workers were forced to pay four times of the government set migration cost but the concerned ministry was yet to take action in this regard. Member of Parliamentarians Caucus on Migration and Development Roksana Yesmin Suty MP said that housemaids in Dhaka were able to earn monthly Tk 15000 to Tk 20,000 by working on hours. She stressed the need for taking steps to create awareness about safe migration at the grassroots level. Another caucus member Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia MP who presided over the hearing said that there were many victim workers who had returned home facing problems abroad. Senior officials, migrants’ rights campaigners, recruiting agents, middlemen and victim migrants took part in the hearing. WARBE Development Foundation’ secretary general Faruque Ahmed said that the sending of housemaids to the KSA and other Arab countries should be stopped if the government fails to protect them abroad. He suggested that the separate dormitory system for housemaids could help protecting female migrants in the KSA. EWOE ministry’s additional secretary Ahmed Munerus Saleheen said that due to high cost of migration, the migrant workers were getting engaged with illegal workers in destination countries. WARBE Development Foundation chairman Syed Saiful Haque who moderated the hearing sessions said that huge amount of money was being used in visa trading in KSA, causing to decline remittance inflow. Manusher Jonno Foundation’s director Rina Roy said that the lack of responsibilities by all of stakeholders was obstacle in ensuring safe and orderly migration from Bangladesh. BAIRA’s joint secretary general Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman also spoke at hearing.

12 March, 2018

MasterCard in partnership with WARBE Development Foundation on Monday announced the Grassroots Level Financial Education program on Remittance Utilization, Investment and Savings aiming to educate and train more 35,000 Migrant Workers and their left-behind families. Mastercard-WARBE Development Foundation already trained 15,000 migrant workers and their left-behind families in the first phase about proper sending remittance and it utilizations and they targeted to train more 35,000 migrants and their family members in upcoming second phase, the organizers informed the launching ceremony held at a city hotel. Over 11 million Bangladeshi workers who were employed abroad and their families who lived in rural areas of Bangladesh were dependent financially on the foreign remittance. However, most of these people are not aware about the authentic remittance transaction process and its proper utilization. MasterCard through this initiative wants to aware and educate these communities on the proper way of remittance transfer, saving practices and its effective utilization of remittance. State Minister for Finance and Planning Muhammad Abdul Mannan who spoke as chief guest said that the country’s migrant workers in many countries were leading miserable life and they were sending their hard earned remittance back home. ‘Migrants are mostly sending back their money through informal channels but they will have to be motivated to send money through legal channels,’ he said. Speaking on the occasion Syed Mohammad Kamal, Country Manager of Mastercard said that in Bangladesh, livelihood of a large number of people was dependent on the foreign remittance sent by their near and dear ones. Stressing the need for creating awareness about remittance among migrants, he said, ‘We believe that this training will equip these communities with the knowledge and skill sets to create their own opportunities and pursue their dreams, resulting in long-term benefits, not just for themselves, but also their families and society at large.’ Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE Development Foundation said that despite such large amount of remittance being sent from abroad by the migrant workers, their families were not being able to utilize the money properly due to lack of knowledge in remittance management. ‘I hope that, this program will be successful in educating these rural people on how to properly manage their remittance.’ Saiful Haque said that there was no step taken by the government for the country’s wage earners who were contributing to the rural development and poverty alleviation. Due to visa trading, huge amount of remittance was being used by the brokers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia without sending them back home, he said, adding that the migrant workers were being affected by high cost of migration and middle in recruitment process. Lawmakers, senior officials and migration experts who were speaking at the launching ceremony expressed worries at the drastic fall in remittance inflow saying the declining remittances would badly affect the development activities in the country. They said that the migrants’ low wages abroad, high cost of migration, visa trading and the intake of remittance through informal channels caused the decline of remittance. The government should provide incentives for the migrant workers to promote sending their hard-earned remittance through proper channels to boost foreign currency reserve, they Chairman of Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development Israfil Alam MP said that efforts must be taken to stop sending remittance through informal channels. ‘I request the finance ministry to provide incentives to the wage earners,’ he said, adding that remittance inflow has dropped to $13 billion in 2017 from nearly $16 billion in two year ago although overseas employment has substantially increased. Members of the Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia MP, Mehjabeen Khaled MP and Jebunnesa Afroz MP, additional secretary to expatriates welfare and overseas employment ministry Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, WARBE DF director Jasiya Khatoon and Mastercard consultant Marilyn Bristi Gomes also spoke at the program. Beneficiaries Aklima Begum from Tangail and Abdul Latif from Keraniganj also shared their experiences at the program.

18 March, 2018

Migrant rights activists on Thursday urged the government to stop sending the women migrant workers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries unless it takes responsibility to protect them at the destinations. Speaking at a discussion, on occasion of celebrating international women’s day, they said that image of the country has been seriously tarnished by the frequent violations of the migrants’ rights abroad. Bangladeshi female workers who are mostly employed as housemaids often fall victims of sexual abuse, denial of wages and tortures. They made the remarks while speaking at the opinion exchange meeting, organized by WARBE Development Foundation at the National Press Club. Labour leaders, civil society members, university teachers, students, returnee migrants and women leaders from various organizations took part in the discussions titled ‘Time is Now: Action for Protecting Women Migrants.’ Sharing her experience, returnee female migrant Shahnaj Begum said that she returned home four months ago from Jordan where she had worked for 30 months as housemaid. Shahnaj who hailed from Lalbagh of Dhaka had migrated to Jordan in 2015 by paying Tk 60,000 to local broker but she had to face excessive works, insufficient foods and denial of her eight month wages. Another migrant Jahanara Begum who returned from Saudi Arabia said that the young sons of the employer could not let her sleep in the night due to meet their ‘sexual desire.’ ‘Three times I had to escape from the house of employer due to torture and abuse,’ she said, adding that the Saudi police later arrested and sent beck her home within eight of her migration. Yesmin, another returnee from the KSA, also narrated bad experiences that she had been tortured, abused by her employer. Speaking as panel discussant, Bangladesh Ovibashi Adhikar Forum’ chairman Nazmul Ahsan said that there were so many reports that Bangladeshi female migrants were being sexually abused by the male employers and their sons in the KSA. As an official team from Bangladesh is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on March 12, he said ‘our demand is to raise the issue with Saudi government to protect them immediately.’ ‘Otherwise, not a single female worker should be sent abroad without protections.’ he said. WARBE DF secretary general Faruque Ahmed said that the sending of female workers to the KSA on conditions of recruiting male workers from Bangladesh was tarnishing the dignity and image of the country. ‘Overseas countries have certain demand of migrant workers, so they will have to recruit workers under Bilateral Agreements, stipulating all rights,’ he demanded. Faruque, also a returnee migrant turned rights activist, said that ‘If the government fails to take responsibility to ensure protection of the female workers at workplaces, we are calling to stop sending the women abroad.’ For an immediate measure of protection, he had proposed that the female workers should be allowed to spend their night at dormitories with other housemaids from Bangladesh under supervision of Bangladesh authorities. Dhaka University international relations’ associate professor Tanzim Uddin Khan said that it was the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens and expatriates who were facing problems at home and abroad. ‘If there is issue of the female migrant in danger abroad, it will be more important for the stare to protect them,’ he said. Tanzim Uddin described the migrant workers as ‘blood cells’ and ‘hearts of the country’s economy’ said that the state should immediately take responsibility to protect the migrant workers facing problems abroad. WARBE DF chairman Syed Saiful Haque who presided over the meeting said that it would be impossible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals without ensuring the equal rights of the female workers at home and abroad. Trade union leader Abul Hossain called upon the female folks to raise their voices to build their own fates. National Domestic Women Workers Union general secretary Murshida Akhter demanded that the government should enact law immediately in accordance with Domestic Workers’ Protection and Welfare Policy 2015. She also urged the government to ratify the ILO Convention 189 that upholds immigrant workers’ rights including access to decent jobs, proper wages, health safety and other occupational rights abroad. WARBE DF director Jasiya Khatoon, who moderated the discussion, said that the government was playing weak role in protecting rights of the country’s migrants facing problems in the Middle East. In the morning, WARBE Development Foundation, the grassroots migrants organizer, had formed a human chain in front of National Press Club in expressing its solidarity with celebration of International Women’s Day.

19 February, 2018

One Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Safe, Orderly, Regular Migration and the Protection of Migrant’s Rights took place in Circuit House, Jessore on 19th November, which was organized by Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development. Mr. Israfil Alam, MP, Chair of Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development thanked everyone for attending the workshop. He said that labour migration is one of the important sources for the development of the country. He then talked about the activities of Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development. He mentioned that the members of Parliamentarian Caucus working in the grassroots level, national level and even in the international level.He mentioned the outcomes of GFMD 2017. He said that awareness among the people can reduce many problems in the migration sector. That’s why starting from the divisional level, then district level, then union level and finally in the village level awareness programme is needed. He also mentioned that as this caucus is attending in the divisional level programs, the members are gathering recommendations that are coming from the people who have faced in the real life and also from the learned audiences. He said that we will take these recommendations to our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if it’s needed. Mr. Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE Development Foundation, mentioned some of the achievements of the Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development so far from its inauguration on 31st March 2017. In this short period of time this caucus has been very active in the migration sectors. He said that we got different important recommendations throughout the visits in the divisional level. He said that members of the caucus have already brought the issues of migration process in the parliament. He also said that the members of the caucus had different meetings with civil society, government officials and with the private sector as well. He mentioned that the percentage of remittance has declined compared to the previous years. He also mentioned that the number of women migrant workers is increasing very rapidly but women are being victimize in the destination countries more often than the male migrant workers. So we all need to work on ensuring security of the women migrant workers in the destination countries. He praised the initiatives of TTC and the government’s achievement on making the rules of Overseas Employment Act 2013 in 2017. He lastly mentioned that dalal/middlemen need to be regularized by law and the laws should be implemented properly. Stories of Victims: Jahanara Begum went to Saudi Arab and she was told to get 16,000taka. When she reached there she was moved into 2 houses for work. She used to tell to serve the male guest in a very wrong way when she denied to do so she was beaten up so bad by her employer that she wanted to come back to Bangladesh right away. But her employer told her that he bought her with 70000 taka so he can whatever he wants to do with her. Then she acted like she was trying to commit suicide, after that she came back to Bangladesh. And now she is living a very miserable life. Asma Begum went to abroad by a middleman who told her that she will be getting 25000 taka per month. She used to work so hard and there a Negro guy started disturbing her at her workplace. Then she came back to Bangladesh by spending 40000taka. Sabina was in Saudi Arab for 6 months as a domestic worker and she spent 50000 taka to go there. She was imprisoned in the house, her mobile phone and also her passport were snatched away from her. As she could not speak their language she used to get beaten up for not understanding what they are asking her to do. She was not provided with good foods to eat. Morium, a middleman who used to work abroad now is sending women migrant workers in the destination countries. Before sending she always sends the women migrant workers in TTC to get the training. She mentioned that those she has sent so far are doing well in the destination countries. SokhinaKhatun, a returnee migrant worker from Lebanon. She was provoked by a middleman named Rohim, who told her that she would get 20,000 taka per month in abroad. But she did not get paid the amount she was told about. She was there for 3 years and did not get her salary properly. Even her husband died after 6months of her leave. And she was not allowed to contact with her family. Mohammad Forid, wanted to go to Qatar but middlemen sent him to Iraq by telling him that he will earn more money in Iraq than Qatar. After reaching there he was captive with 180 other people for 9months. Then he came back to Bangladesh and triedto file a case against the middleman and the recruiting agency. But the recruiting agency filed a case against him for harassment. He also went to BMET arbitration cell but did not get any benefit from there. Moslem Ali, who went to Saudi Arab by a help of a policeman by giving him 9lakhs ta

19 February, 2018

A Knowledge Sharing Workshop on safe migration with Multi-Stakeholders & Networks took place on 19th October 2017 in Cox’s Bazar, which was organized by Parliamentarians Caucus on Migration & Development (PCMD). Mr. Israfil Alam, MP, Chair, PCMD was the chief guest of the workshop. The programme was moderated by Didarul Alam Rashed, Executive Director, Nongor. Mr. Israfil Alam, MP, Chair, PCMD in his welcome speech praised the Government of Bangladesh on its work on the Rohingya issues. He also mentioned the development works and also the attempts to rehabilitate the Rohingya people. Then he talked about the other Divisional level knowledge sharing workshops on safe migration with multi stakeholders & networks. Then he talked about the objectives of the program.The objectives of this workshop are- To share knowledge about safe migration process, regular channels and reduce migration cost. To strengthen the networking capacity of BOAF in National & Divisional Level. Understanding the role of network to effective intervention for migrants’ rights issue. After that Ms. Jasiya Khatoon, Director, WARBE Development Foundation, talked about the activities of Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration & Development. The caucus has been organizing different programs in different divisions. At the same time the members of this caucus also participated in the international events to discuss migration issues. Mr. Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE Development Foundation briefly talked about the migration scenario. He talked about how the migrant workers face difficulties in the process of migration. He said that from 1976 to till now 1,11,879 people has migrated as migrant workers in almost 162 countries. Mr. Forkan, Victim to the act caused by middleman, said that he went to Malaysia by the help of a middleman named Yeasin and his assistance named Romiz. But on his way he was captured by the Thai Police for being undocumented and he had to spend 9 months in jail. Another victim Md. Ishak, Sabrang, Teknaf said that due to the hassle created by the Passport Office and corruption by the police he could not create his passport. Then he came to know about going to abroad without any passport by using ship from a middleman named Abul Kashem. There were 139 people with him who had to face a very miserable situation. YPSA helped him to rehabilitate. Md. Morshed, another victim from Saint Martin, Teknaf said that on 26th March 2015, he was trafficked forcefully when he did not have any desire to go abroad. He said that there were more than 2500 people from Bangladesh and Myanmar. He had to go through a very miserable situation on that time. Somehow he got rescued. Md. Nazrul Islam, Gorjoniya, Ramu shared his experience with the audience. He said that he wanted to go to Malaysia, so he asked an owner of a fishing board to take him to Malaysia. On that boat he saw there were more than 750 people, from them 400 people were Bangladeshi. He had to live in jail for 2 years and 9 months in Thailand. Victim Shumon Barua, West Baruapara, Cox’s Bazar told that a middleman named Ziaur Rahman took him to teknaf promising that he will send Shumon in regular way to abroad. Shumon was sold by the middleman for 15,000 taka. Then he was taken in the trawler where there were 15 more people like him. They were given few amounts of dry foods and 5 liters water to survive. After 15days hey reached in Thailand where they were tortured and forced to call in their house to give 3 lakhs taka as ransom for their life. Then after one month he was captured by the Thai police and he had to stay in the jail for 11months. Ms. Joshna Akter, Choukoria said that middleman Dilowara told her to give her 3,50,000 taka to go to Saudi Arab. So Joshna gave her 40,000 taka initially and then she get her visa checked. Then she realized that she was being trafficked to Bahrain. After that she flew in Dhaka and she was being threatened by the middleman. When she complaint against her to the UNO, the matter started to solve. Mr. Faruque Ahmed, Secretary General, WARBE Development Foundation talked briefly about the activities of WARBE Development Foundation. Mr. Nazmul Ahsan, Chairman, BOAF talked about the contributions of the migrant workers in economy of Bangladesh. Md. Ali Jinnat, Staff Reporter, Daily Star said that there have been series of reports about issues of migration and trafficking. He said that the prominent figures of the society are involved in trafficking. Ms. Saleha Khatun, British Council, talked briefly about the PROKAS Programme. And then she advised the audience to query in DEMO office before going to abroad. Ms. Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia, MP, was very disappointed to hear about the stories about the victims. She mentioned that the vulnerable situation of these innocent people cannot be ignored.

19 February, 2018

The consultation on Recruiting Sub-Agents/ Middlemen for Ethical and Fair Recruitment of Migrant Workers’ was held at CIRDAP auditorium on Wednesday. At least 30 middlemen who hailed from different districts of the country demanded their recognition as sub-agents of the recruiting agencies under the legal framework. They urged the authorities concerned to facilitate them doing organizations like Bangladesh Association International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) to jointly work in the migration sector. Parliamentary Caucus on Migration and Development member and lawmaker Md Altaf Ali was chief guest while migrant rights campaigners, academics, BAIRA leaders and government officials were also present. Migrant rights organization WARBE Development Foundation in collaboration with PROKAS programme of British Council organized the consultation. Sub Agent Abul Kalam who has been working as middleman at Comilla Sadar for last 25 years said that under contact with recruiting agencies he collected migrant workers, money, travel documents and submitted them in Dhaka offices of recruiting for sending them abroad. If the recruiting agencies cheat, delayed, failed to send the workers abroad, all blames came to middlemen, he said, adding that middlemen could only earn Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 from each worker but they had to face huge pressure. Another middleman Porimal Halder Badal who hailed from Savar said that he has been doing job as sub agent for last 12 years. He demanded the authorities to bring them legal frame work for ensuring their rights and also for ensuring safe migration. Porimal said that police always harassed middlemen and extorted money from them while they took the workers to recruiting agency office for processing recruitment or taking them to the medical center for checkup. Middleman Masuduzzaman Liton hailing from Tangail said that although middlemen have been playing significant role in the country, but they could not be identified with dignity. He demanded the government to bring them under legal framework and recruiting agencies to provide them ID cards. Female broker Shamsun Nahar Putul said that she was engaged in sending workers abroad as her sons and other middlemen sent her visas from UAE and Qatar. WARBE Development Foundation chairman Syed Saiful Haque who moderated the consultation said that there were huge number of middlemen at home and at destination countries and they were engaged in collecting visas and sending workers for overseas jobs. He called for creating awareness about the existing laws and overseas employment rules among the middlemen to help ensuring safe and orderly migration. Lawmaker Md Altaf Ali said that the government along with all stakeholders of the migration sector would work together to find out ways to manage middlemen. Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training director Nurul Islam, BAIRA joint secretary general Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman and Dhaka University associate professor or International Relations Tanzimuddin Khan among others spoke at the function.