Dialogue on “Governance of Migration Focusing on GFMD 2016”

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.

20 March, 2017

On the eve of International Women’s Day-2017, WARBE Development Foundation successfully organized a consultation on “Protection of Rights and Dignity of Women Migrant Workers” at Dhaka Reporter’s Unity from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Before the consultation, WARBE also arranged a “Solidarity Human Chain to Protect Women Migrant’s Rights and Dignity” at in front of press club from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. At the inception of the consultation Chairman of WARBE Development Foundation, Syed Saiful Haque greeted everyone and thanked everyone for attending the consultation. After that Md. Faruque Ahmed, Secretary General, WARBE Development Foundation gave the address of Welcome. In his welcome note, he mentioned some crucial points regarding the rights and facilities of women labor migrant. He proposed the need of female dormitory in the countries where women migrate so that the migrated women do not have to stay and face any problem in their employer’s house. After the welcome note Ms. Jasiya Khatoon, Director, WARBE Development Foundation presented the key note of the consultation. In her key note speech she emphasized on the equal rights of men and women in their respective workplace. She pointed out the need of proper training for the trainers who train the migrant workers before their departure. She also brought up the issue of ratifying the ILO convention no 189 by the government. Among the participants of the consultation 5 female returnee migrant victims from Saudi Arab, Jordan, Lebanon who shared their stories with the audience. In open discussion session, Mr. Sirajul Haque, president, Bangladesh National Garments Workers Employees League (BNGWEL) talked about creating a global community on domestic worker’s right. Mr. Najmul Ahsan, Chairman, Bangladesh Ovibashi Adhikar Forum (BOAF) discussed about the initiative of getting two months of advance salary even before the departure of migrant workers and he also mentioned the need of providing security to the female migrant worker in their work agreement. Guest of Honor Ms. Rina Roy, Director, Manusher Jonno Foundation mentioned that Dalals or Middlemen crisis has to be eliminated for safe migration and also mentioned that government should look after the write ups if the agreement of the migrant workers. She put emphasis on the fact that all the NGOs who are working on this matter should stick together for a better outcome. At the same time she mentioned to work side by side with the government. Guest of Honor Ms. Shahina Ferdous, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment mentioned that she collected information from the consultation and she would bring up these issues to the right authority. She told that as the laws are different in the destination countries the government faces difficulties to protect the rights of migrant workers. She encouraged the returnee female migrants in the audience to create awareness among other interested people on the labor migration issue. She also encouraged the returnee female migrants by addressing them as assets of our nation. In the closing remarks Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman of WARBE Development Foundation showed his appreciation to the participants for being presented in the consultation and thanked those persons who were behind working to organize the program. At the same time he recognized the contribution of the female migrant workers and asserted that the interested people who want to migrate for better opportunity should first have to get the correct information.

07 February, 2017

wo representatives for ICMC, Brussels, Belgium visited Dhaka, Bangladesh from 26th September to 30th September 2016. Ms. Laura Hieber (ICMC) and Leila Marzo (MADE Network), visited Dhaka on the occasion of arranging the venue and other logistics supports during the 9th GFMD from 8-12 December 2016. WARBE DF hosted their travel and visit arrangement. As per their visit agenda, WARBE DF scheduled meeting with IOM (arranger of GFMD Government Days on behalf of MoFA), visit venue and meeting with BICC & Intercontinental authority, Visit all pre-selected Hotels, Discussion with DRIK for decoration and exhibition setup etc. The guests stayed at Hotel Lake Castle, one the selected hotel for GFMD CSD delegates. The visit also visited all hotels like: Hotel Ascott, Nordic, Platinum Hotels, De Castle and Orchard Hotels. They also scrutinize their rooms, services, security, and transport services etc. On their last day of Visit, WARBE also hosted a leisure tour at different sightseeing spots of Dhaka and different shopping mall. They also enjoyed different historical places of Dhaka, and finally fly to Brussels, Belgium on 30th September 2016.

06 February, 2017

WARBE Development Foundation and Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) have jointly organized a program on ‘Pre- Budget Discussion: Migrant Workers Perspective’ under the banner of Bangladesh Civil Society Coordination Committee (BCSCC) on GFMD 2016. The consultation was held on 09 May 2016 (Monday) from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm at the VIP Lounge, National Press Club, Dhaka. The objective of this consultation was to highlight the contribution of migrant workers in Bangladesh national economy and budgetary allocation for migrants’ well being. Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman of WARBE Development Foundation, moderated the program. Mr. Jabed Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare & Overseas Employment (MEWOE) was present as the chief guest. An inaugural speech was delivered by Ms. Jasiya Khatoon, Director of WARBE DF. Mr. Shakirul Islam, Chirman, of OKUP has presented an analysis on budget allocation for migration sector. Mr. Faruque Ahmed, Secretary General, WARBE DF, Mr. Atiqun Nabi, Executive Director, INAFI Bangladesh, Ms. Sarowat Binte Islam, Program Manager, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Mr. Omar Faruque Chowdhury, Executive Director, OKUP were deliberated their valuable speech. Mr. Ali Haider Chowdhury, Senior Vice President, Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) was present and delivered his remarkable speech.

06 February, 2017

DanChurchAid and WARBE Development Foundation under the banner of Bangladesh Civil Society Coordination Committee (BCSCC) on 12th May, at Asian SR Hotel, Station Road, Chittagong 2016. Objective of this conference and consultation in Chittagong was mobilized and focused on some thematic areas of migration like: types of migration, prospects and problems of migration, migration cost, recruitment reform, problems of international migrants, role of civil society for protecting migrants’ rights and GFMD & PGA. Ms. Jaysia Khatoon, Director-WARBE DF briefly presents the background on organizing 9th GFMD in Bangladesh for better understanding of the participants. She covered the following topics: Background of GFMD (Informal, Non- binding, Voluntary and Govt. lead process), which starts from 2007, Scenario of all GFMD (2007-2015) and UNHLD 2013, Theme of Dhaka GFMD 2016 (which will cover 6 round table), organizing Civil society day, PGA- celebration (6-10 December, 2016), formation of BCSCC (Bangladesh civil society coordination committee), Linking migration with all issues of SDGs- especially goal no. 5.2, 8.7/8.8,10.7/10.c, 16.2, and 17.18. Other speakers were Mr. Utpal Barua, ED, Bright Bangladesh, Mr. Ali Haider Chowdhury, BAIRA, Mr. Zahirul Alam, Director-Chittagong DEMO, Mr. Faruque Ahmed, Secretary General, WARBE DF and Mr. Christine Wolf, DCA. Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE DF moderate the consultation. The representatives from non-government organizations, community based organizations (CBO), civil society, and the enthusiastic professionals from law and journalism joined in this consultation. In this consultation district forum was formed along with the guests was coming from different districts.