Why Bangladeshi Women Are Most Vulnerable Migrant Workers Abroad?

WhatsAppWhatsAppFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterPinterestPinterestRedditRedditGmailGmailShareShare

Last updated on November 15th, 2021 at 06:17 am

Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia Saudi ArabiaBangladeshi women who have travelled to Middle Eastern countries as migrant workers recall horror stories of violation of human rights. Most have come back with scars of physical abuse and resulting mental trauma.

Many have been sent to Saudi Arabia as domestic helps through middlemen. They are mostly illiterate and without proper documentation. Most of them have sent millions in form of remittance. They come back unhappy and broken in most cases and cannot receive rehabilitation of any sorts because there are no provisions of such sorts back home.

According to 2017 statistics from the government, out of 1 million Bangladeshi workers who migrated overseas for jobs, 121,935 were women – about 12 percent of the expatriate migrant workforce. Most women have been employed as sex workers, forced to sleep with multiple men after work, without any respite and are later dumped when they start showing signs of fatigue or ill health.

Related Posts

There is no redressal happening to such kind of gross misconduct and violation of human rights. Most Bangladeshi women have not been allowed to graduate to better jobs except being domestic helps.

According to a recent report by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, a Dhaka-based grassroots action group, at least 35 percent of female migrant-workers face physical abuse in the workplace, 52 percent face mental torture, and 11 percent face sexual harassment. 

Government has only now risen to the moment and has done very less to address this kind of inhuman behaviour by rich Arab countries. Shahidul Alam, director-general of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), said the government had no program or initiative in place to provide mental health services to migrant workers who have suffered abuse abroad, regardless of whether they are men or women. Shariful Hasan, who directs the migration program at BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), an international non-governmental organization and the country’s largest NGO, said that “psycho-social counseling and economic rehabilitation are a must for the expatriates who returned home after experiencing abuse.” Illegal practice of employing Bangladeshi women abroad hasn’t stopped due to poverty in the country itself. This needs to be addressed first.

About WR News Writer

WR News Writer is an engineer turned professionally trained writer who has a strong voice in her writing. She speaks on issues of migrant workers, human rights, and more.

WR News Writer

WR News Writer is an engineer turned professionally trained writer who has a strong voice in her writing. She speaks on issues of migrant workers, human rights, and more.

Recent Posts

Greece’s Free 1-Year Global Nomad Pass Launches June 17 for Remote Workers

What is the Global Nomad Pass programme? On June 17, 2025, Greece launched a new countrywide remote work programme with…

June 17, 2025

2025 International Labour Conference: What Changed for Workers? Details Inside

The 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) was a breakthrough moment for the global workers’ rights agenda, resulting in historic advancements…

June 16, 2025

UK Tightens Immigration: 8 New Rules Every Immigrant Must Know

Several significant changes to the immigration system are now underway in the UK government after the release of a new…

June 16, 2025

What Is the Current DA in UPS and How Many Employees Will Gain?

What is the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)? The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), beginning 1 April 2025, provides a guaranteed pension…

June 16, 2025

Domestic Workers Lead Call for Tougher Loan Laws on International Workers Day in Hong Kong

On the eve of International Domestic Workers Day, a coalition of NGOs and pro-establishment lawmaker Edward Leung asked Hong Kong's…

June 16, 2025

National Insurance Company Limited AO Apply Online 2025: Direct Link Eligibility and Vacancy Details

The National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), owned by the Government of India, has invited applications for 266 Administrative Officer (AO)…

June 14, 2025