Launching of “Training of Trainers” (ToT) on “Remittance Transfer in Legal Process and its Effective Utilization” in Bangladesh

18 June, 2017

Lawyers, rights campaigners and officials on Saturday stressed need for proper implementation of overseas employment and migration act and other relevant laws to protect the migrants and their families from abuses and harassment at home and abroad. Speaking at a dialogue, they said that migrant workers had little access to justice due to lack of awareness and implementation of the relevant laws as well as lack of bilateral agreements with the labour recipient countries. The thousands of middlemen who were involved in recruitment process harassed migrant workers, they said while speaking at a dialogue on ‘Access to justice for migrants and their family members’ at CIRDAP auditorium. WARBE development foundation and Lawyers beyond Borders’ Bangladesh jointly organized the dialogue. Speaking as Chief Guest, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry’s Secretary in charge Jabed Ahmed said that ‘culture of impunity’ for migrant workers took place both at home and destination countries. ‘Many of the victimized migrant workers are unaware about laws and they often feel discouraged to file cases fearing the hassles in legal process,’ he said. Jabed Ahmed, however, said that the government was committed to take protection measures to ensure justice to the migrant workers. WARBE Foundation Chairman Syed Saiful Haque demanded ensuring migrant workers to have access to complaints before getting access to justice as there were no clear complaint centers or relevant information. ‘If migrants get problems to have access to justice, where can their family members who belong to them get the justice,’ he questioned. WARBE Development Foundation Secretary General Faruque Ahmed said that female migrant workers were being abused at home and destination countries as they were recruited by outsourcing method of recruiting agencies. He urged the government to set up dormitories for the domestic workers in destination countries as a protection measure from sexual abuses. Faruque Ahmed, a returned migrant, appealed to the government to send migrant workers only from the governments’ database to slash involvement of middlemen. Joint Secretary Kazi Abul Kalam, also former labour attaché, presented the keynote on Overseas Employment and Migration Act 2013 and Policy 2016 while WARBE Development Foundation Director Jasiya Khatoon made the welcome address at the dialogue. International Labour Organization’s National Programme Officer Rahnuma Salam Khan said that migrant workers could be brought under purview legal protection in destination countries by involving the legal institutes there. Country coordinator of Lawyers beyond Borders Bangladesh Abdullah Al Hasan said that proper implementation of the relevant laws should be ensured to protect the victim migrants. He emphasized on proper collaboration of information, fact and evidence from countries of origins to destinations to get justice for migrants. Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training Director Dr. Nurul Islam who presided over the dialogue said that domestic workers were facing overload of workers in the Middle East countries where working hours were not counted. Those issues would be discussed at the joint working group meeting, he assured. Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program Executive Director Omar Faruq Chowdhury demanded the immediate implementation of the overseas employment act which has been enacted four years ago.

18 June, 2017

To promote & protection of domestic workers rights and dignity, recognition of domestic workers as workers, WARBE Development Foundation, has organized a Consultation on “Ratification of ILO Convention 189 for the protection of Women Domestic Worker’’, on the occasion of International Domestic Workers Day at the VIP Lounge, National Press Club. In the consultation Advocate Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia, MP& Member of Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development was the chief guest. Representatives from different NGOs working on Migrants’ rights, trade union, returnee migrant domestic workers, journalists were also presented on the consultation.Presiding over the consultation, Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE Development Foundation said that there were few number of female migrant used to migrate abroad five year ago but now number of female migration increased sharply. Ms. Jasiya Khatoon, Director, WARBE Development Foundation, on her key speech shared the emergence of ILO Convention 189. She also said that government should not allow domestic workers abroad without ensuring safe workplaces, fair wages. Lawmaker and Member of parliamentarian caucus on migration and development, Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalai, MP spoke as chief guest and said that the government is trying to empower the country’ women by providing free education for girls till 12thclass. The government should not allow migration of domestic workers without ensuring their safe workplaces and fair wages at the destination countries, said rights campaigners and returnee workers. Female migrants who were employed as domestic workers were physical and mental tortures, sexual abuse, and denial of wages and overload of works abroad, they said. They urged the government of Bangladesh as well as the destination countries to ratify the convention 189 of International Labour Organization for protection of women domestic workers at home and abroad. Syed Saiful Haque said that KSA recruited female workers from Bangladesh under a memorandum of understanding which was not internationally standard, so the workers were put in the slavery. As Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka have stopped sending their women to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries because of various problems and abuses, so Arab recruiters become highly interested to hire Bangladeshi female workers, he said. Faruque Ahmed, Secretary General, WARBE Development Foundation, said that about 22 Bangladeshi female migrant workers were killed mercilessly or committed suicide while working abroad with a year. He said that Bangladeshi domestic workers were victims abroad and such incidents were tarnishing image of personally female workers as well as the country. Faruque, also a returnee migrant, demanded that Bangladesh government should not send more workers abroad without taking protection measures. He also called for realization of proper compensation of the victim female workers. Sarowat Binte Islam, Program Manager, Manusher Jonno Foundation said that Bangladeshi female workers were resultant to go to work in Saudi Arabia fearing tortures and abuses from the media and they also showed little interest in the government registration. ‘But the brokers started recruiting them by alluring overseas jobs; she said. Calling the government to ratify the ILO convention 189, Sarowat said that the government should not send female workers abroad without ensuring safe workplace and fair wages abroad. Murshida Akter, General Secretary, National Domestic Women Workers’ Union said that no visible implementation of the domestic worker protection and welfare policy had been observed though the government approved the policy two years back. She said that formulation of a monitoring cell followed by the policy was remained futile so far. Manju, a returnee migrant domesticworker from KSA, said that she had suffered physical tortures by her employer during her job in KSA lasted for two months. Another migrant Manika Begum said that she returned from Oman within four month of migration due to tortures by employers.

14 May, 2017

On the eve of International Labor Day-2017, WARBE Development Foundation organized a media dialogue on “Observation and Recommendation of UN Migrant Workers Committee to Protect the Rights of Migrant Workers” at VIP Lounge, National Press Club, Dhaka. Before the media dialogue, WARBE also arranged a Solidarity Human Chain to “Protect Migrant Workers Rights and Dignity” at in front of National Press Club. The dialogue started with the key speech on Observation and Recommendation of UN Migrant Workers Committee to Protect the Rights of Migrant Workers by Ms. Nayela Akter, Programme Officer, HELVETAS Swiss Inter-cooperation Bangladesh and Ms. Jasiya Khatoon, Director, WARBE Development Foundation. After the key notes, Mr. Md. Jabed Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE) said that we have been recommended to publish Bilateral Agreement (BLA) and Memorandum of understanding (MoU) as well as we have committed to reduce Migration Cost 2020 by 3 months. In the panel discussion, Zahid Hossain, UN Human Rights Officer said that State has charter based UP, special rapporteur, UN Charter agreeing a state become member State of UN. It’s good that Bangladesh has gone through 2 rounds of universal periodic review (UPR). Mr. Shakirul Islam, Chairman, Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) stated that the recommendations of the report are the tip of the iceberg. We should analyze in between the other issues so that we can analyze the real problem, otherwise we will end up with conventional discussion. Mr. Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, Joint Secretary General, Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agency (BAIRA) said that recruiting Agency has been making us accountable and thus it will create transparency and accountability if us. We also believe that we need to reduce the migration cost. Mr. Feroz Manna, President, Reporters for Bangladeshi Migrants (RBM) also said that the migration cost should be reduced. There are modern slavery existing. We claim to uphold rights of migrant workers Masudul Haque, General Secretary of Reporters for Bangladeshi Migrants (RBM) started with the security of Bangladeshi migrant workers is a major challenge. There should be specific care that the demand that has come about the type, security and other aspects of migrants workers. Ms. Sheepa Hafiza, Executive Director, Ain o Salish Kendra also said CSO should be involved with BLA and that is quite crucial and the making the information in public will be very crucial, in this regards SDG Goal covers many aspects of migration. Dr. CR Abrar, Executive Director, Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) also stated that National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) needs to be empowered through giving them independence/autonomy. Transparency of Wage Earner’s Welfare Boarder needs to be explored. Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman of WARBE Development Foundation said that government should take care of the Migrant workers at the country of destination. If code of practice does not comply, Government can compliant to UN Committee. So, this is a unique opportunity that the Government can apply. At the very end of the dialogue, Ms. Roksana Yasmin Suty, Member of Parliament, Member, Parliamentarian Committee of Caucus on Migration & Development gave her respect to all labor around the world. She also focused on the contribution of Bangladesh Government for migrant workers. However, there are still some issues need to be improved hopefully with the help of everyone we could get rid of the problem, because it’s all of our responsibility to careful about the migration issues.

02 April, 2017

A seven- member parliamentary Caucus on migration and development was launched on 31st March, 2017 at Park Town Restaurant. The parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development has been formed in a joint collaboration with British Council and WARBE Development Foundation. In the launching program, Honorable Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh National Parliament, Mr. Fazle Rabbi Miah graced the occasion as Chief Guest and formally inaugurated the caucus. Honorable Chief Guest, Deputy Speaker, Mr Fazle Rabbi Miah, shared some of his experiences of being the head of the Bangladesh Delegation team of IPU (Inter Parliamentarian Union) Assembly. Mr. Israfil Alam, Chairman of parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development, made the declaration as a chairperson of the Caucus as well as read the proclamation. He talked about the main objectives and activities of the parliamentary Caucus. The parliamentary Caucus will act as a focal group the parliament members who will work in an advocate framework to ensure rights of migrant workers. The goals of the Caucus include working for the development of legal framework and migrant friendly deal in national, regional and international arenas. The Caucus will inspect the workplaces of workers abroad and draw attention of respective parliament members to provide necessary assistance to them, he also said. Roksana Yesmin Suty, MP, Adv. Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia, MP, Talukdar Md Yunus, MP, Nurjahan Begum, MP, Jabed Ahmed, Additional Secretary of MOEWOE were also presented. Representatives from different NGO’s, BAIRA, trade union and media attended the program. Jabed Ahmed, Additional Secretary of the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment ministry said although Bangladesh has ratified the ILO Convention 1990, destination countries are yet to ratify it. Syed Saiful Haque, chairman of WARBE Development Foundation, said the migration sector doesn’t get necessary allocation in the national budget. He also stressed the need for ratification of the international treaties on migration and lowering the cost of migration at a zero level.

20 March, 2017

WARBE Development Foundation organized a national consultation on CSO’s CMW Shadow Report with multi-stakeholders and advocates on 4 March 2017 at CIRDAP auditorium with the financial support from Swiss Development Corporation (SDC), technical support from MFA and Diplomatic Training Program (DTP) alumni; working group on behalf of 20 CSO organizations. The national consultation started with a welcome speech to clarify the purpose of the consultation; followed by a swift presentation on Background and objective of the CSO Shadow Report and National CSO Consultation on CMW Shadow Report. These sessions were facilitated by Ms. Jasiya Khatoon, Director- WARBE DF and Ms. Nayela Akter, Programme Officer, HELVETAS Swiss Inter-cooperation respectively. In the open discussion session after the brief presentation on the CMW Shadow report by the CSOs, the participants urges to point out some major issues in the report such as: ensure accountability of the recruiting agencies activities and recruitment process, ensure the compensation and fair justice towards the deceased and injured migrants, strengthening the migrants friendly and gender sensitive services of Bangladesh High Commission abroad, establish cost effective remittance transfer methods and channel including extension of services of Probashi Kallayan Bank (PKB), Promote advocacy to the receiving countries to ratify the UN CMW 1990 and ensure representatives of migrants in Wage Earners Welfare Board. Among the panel discussant, Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman-WARBE Development Foundation, Md Zahid Hossain, Human Rights Officer from UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Dr. Meghna Guhathakurata, Commissioner, Bangladesh Human Rights Commission from Research Initiative of Bangladesh were present and provided some valuable suggestions. Dr. Justice Refaat Ahmed, Senior Judge of Supreme Court and CMW expert was chief guest of the consultation; whereas the program was moderated by Dr.Tanseem Siddique, Chairperson of RMMRU. The recommendations and suggestions from this consultation will incorporate at the draft Shadow report and will place to the CMW before 12 March 2017. The final report will be consider for the presentation in the 26th Session of CMW (Committee on Migrant Workers) which will be held from 3-13 April 2017 at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland.

07 February, 2017

he Welfare Association for the Rights of Bangladeshi Emigrants (WARBE) Development Foundation organized a media consultation on ‘Bangladesh Annual Migration Report-2016’ supported by AWO International e.V. and DanCharch Aid held on 31 December 2016 at A.S. Mahmud Seminar Hall, The Daily Star, Dhaka. In the seminar, Mahjabeen Khaled, Awami League lawmaker also a foreign affairs parliamentary standing committee member, addressed as the chief guest, and the entire program was moderated by Syed Saiful Haque, chairman, WARBE Development Foundation. WARBE Development Foundation launched the “Bangladesh Annual Migration Report 2016” in this program. Presenting the report, Jasiya Khatoon, Director, WARBE Development Foundation spoke that our migrant workers are being tortured mentally and physically while the risk of being radicalised has emerged in 2016 in the list of challenges. Referring to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training’s (BMET) data the WARBE report says, remittance earnings decreased by 17 percent from US$ 15.27 billion in 2015 to US$ 12.651 billion mainly due to a slump in global oil prices. Sarowat Binte Islam, programme manager of Manusher Jonno Foundation, focused on defending our female migrants from torture. Shameen Ahmed, Joint Secretary General, Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) said that bilateral agreements are worker-friendly. BMET Director General Selim Reza said our migrant workers should follow proper migration channels. Less dependency on the middle men will reduce the sufferings. Awami League lawmaker Mahjabeen Khaled, also a foreign affairs parliamentary standing committee member, said the government was working on developing a parliamentary caucus to address all issues of migrants.