International Migrants Day 2021 Press Release

Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra (BNSK) is a women workers’ organization organized in 2010 for the realizing the women workers’ rights, welfare and development. In the last one year, BNSK has provided training, financial assistance, financial support for bitcoin slot addicts and socio-economic development assistance to about 5,000 female migrant workers returning from abroad during the Covid pandemic period.

To protect the rights of women workers ahead of International Migrant Day 2021, 17 December 2021, BNSK, Migrant Workers Development Program (OKAP), Bangladesh Migrant Workers Forum (BOSF), Association for Social Development of Bangladesh (ASDB) and Social Workers (SASF) Together they organized a huge rally of migrant workers. The rally started from Shahid Minar Chattar and ended in front of the National Press Club. Migrant workers and their families, migrant women workers and migrant rights activists spoke at the rally. The heads of the organizing organizations spoke at the rally also.

Ms. Sumaiya Islam, Executive Director, BNSK said, “Even after 50 years of independence, we are  yet far behind in achieving what is meant by economic emancipation of women workers. At this moment, we need to build a skilled workforce of migrant women workers and ensure that they have the necessary support at home and abroad. Only then will the income from women migration increase in the country and Bangladesh will move forward to achieve the SDG target. Moreover, we have to ensure bilateral negotiation with receiving countries for Justice for Migrants in destination and Stop Wage theft by the employers. We have to confirm socioeconomic inclusion of our returnee women migrant workers.”

Mr. Abul Hossain, BOSF Adviser, said that, if the rights of the migrants are protected, the wheel of the country’s economy will accelerate. Migration of women migrants will be more meaningful if the cost of migration can be reduced to Zero cost i.e. Employers pay principle! ”

Mr. Omar Farooq Chowdhury, Executive Director of OKUP, said, “By training the returning migrants, it is possible to utilize the experience gained abroad in the economic development of Bangladesh. We can encourage migrant workers to invest remittances earned in the development of the country. If we are vigilant in protecting the rights of migrant workers, both the country and the people will survive. ”

Ms. Samanta from Warbe DF shared her insights how to stop deprivation of workers from their rights as human, woman and workers. She also stressed on keeping the Dignity of workers at forefront of everything.

Ms. Shiuli Sikder, Vice President, ASDB said, “Women emancipation and emancipation of women workers are complementary. Today, if we keep half of the country’s manpower women excluded from the trend of development, no development will be sustainable. Therefore, our demand is to involve women workers and migrant women workers, in particular, in the mainstream of development in Bangladesh. ”

In this context, the collective demands of migrant workers are as follows:

1. The status of all migrant workers, men and women, as human beings and workers should be given priority everywhere in the country and abroad. Migrant rights are human rights!
2. The work of domestic migrant workers must be recognized as a work in accordance with Convention 189 of the International Labor Organization (ILO). The dignity and rights of women domestic workers should be treated as human rights. The rights of women domestic workers are human rights.
3. The working hours of women migrant workers should be 8 hours per day. Wages must be doubled for overtime hours of daily work volume of 8 hours. Unpaid wages of workers include theft of wages – Stop the wage-theft of women domestic migrant workers immediately. It is a must to-do.
4. All women workers in the country and abroad have to pay the prescribed working hours in accordance with the conventions of the International Labor Organization.
5. Bangladesh’s migration costs are higher than all other countries in the world. Immediately through negotiations and bargaining at the government level, you have to spend zero immigration, do it. Immigration costs must be paid to the owner.
6. The government of Bangladesh and the employers in destination must take all necessary steps to improve the skills of all migrant workers to provide. Skills development is an essentiality to address the demand of 4^th Industrial revolution so that Employers may reap the harvest the return over investment in Skills. Skills is the human rights of a migrant workers, do it.
7. It is a human right for women migrant workers and women domestic workers to maintain women’s health. Arrangements for six months’ leave with pay including maternity allowances should be made immediately at home and abroad. Governments and Employers have to accept.

The Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra (BNSK) and its affiliates urge the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately implement the above demands.

Photos of Rally:

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