Women workers in ME being abused Majority of Bangladeshi females who work as domestic aides in the Middle Eastern countries face physical and sexual abuses at the hands of their employers. Subject to mandatory scrutiny they are deported when they test positive for HIV, UNDP study report revealed at a hotel yesterday. Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Minister for Labour and Employment, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment was present as the chief guest at function on "HIV vulnerabilities faced by woman migrants: from Bangladesh to the Arab states". Caitlin Wiesen, Regional Programme Coordinator of UNDP in Colombo and Shakirul Islam, chairman of OKUP presented the report.The findings showed 85 per cent of Bangladeshi migrant woman workers are subjected to physical abuse while 20 per cent sexually abused. The findings were based on almost 250 interviews that include female migrant workers who experienced undocumented migration and faced vulnerable situations such as sexual abuse and deportation on grounds of testing HIV-positive. About 60 per cent migration took place through private channels while 40 per cent through government channels. Migrants tested for HIV before departure constitutes 100 per cent. There are 65 lakh Bangladeshi migrants working abroad of which one lakh are women, the function was told. Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain expressed his dismay over the UNDP revelation. He said the study report was an eye-opener and the matter will be looked into seriously as it is considered as a big problem. "Initially we will appoint an officer in Bangladesh missions in countries where maximum Bangladeshi female workers are employed to deal with their problems," he said. He, however, said that earlier most of the Bangladeshi woman workers used to be trafficked abroad or sent illegally by brokers and many of them faced various vulnerabilities. He said Bangladeshi overseas workers who go through government channels are imparted three weeks' training to equip them with the know-how to face various challenges, including preventive measures to various diseases, legal help and overcoming cultural shocks . The recommendations in the study report include promoting interregional dialogue and coordination for protection of the rights, health and well being of woman migrant workers, developing effective holistic mechanism for the return and reintegration of migrant workers, including proper referral to HIV counseling and testing, treatment, care and support services that uphold standard of confidentiality. Recommendations for countries of origin include advocacy for bilateral or multilateral agreements with host countries to standardise contracts and conditions of work for migrant workers. The recommendations also include designing and augmentation of effective HIV awareness and prevention programmes during the pre-departure orientation, ensuring safe and informed migration and advocating better social acceptance of migrant woman workers. Elias Amed, acting secretary of the Expatriate Welfare Ministry and Stefan Priesner, Country Director of UNDP and Dr Salil Panakadan, UNAIDS Country Coordinator, among others, were present. http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/11/25/news0447.htm |
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