The government keeps mum despite the verifiable fact that overseas job seekers frequently fall prey to exploitation by vested interests, including middlemen and recruiting agencies.
Being oblivious of the harsh realities, a section of innocent people is going abroad for jobs by spending pots of money.
Many migrant workers had to return home empty-handed finding no jobs as per contracts with the recruiting agencies.
Even, hundreds of overseas job seekers live on the breadline after they fail to go abroad.
Against this backdrop, the government is going to observe International Migration Day tomorrow with the theme ‘Safe Migration and Economic Development’.
Aftab (not the real name) and his uncle on Thursday came to Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training in the capital from Tangail to get a pre-departure briefing.
Overseas job seekers are given a short briefing about the cultural norms of the destination country.
When daily sun approached Aftab’s uncle at the briefing, he hesitated to disclose his name.
He said Aftab like other job seekers is going to Saudi Arabia for a cleaning job.
He will work in Dammam city of Saudi Arabia and get 700 Saudi riyals per month.
Aftab’s uncle said they had to spend Tk 0.55 million to go to Saudi Arabia.
They managed the money through various means, including loan.
“We have borrowed Tk 0.1 million on conditions that 30 maunds of paddy have to be given to the lender every year until the loan is repaid,” he added.
Asked if Aftab does not get a job and salary as per the conditions, he said there is nothing to do then.He said Aftab along with others are going to Saudi Arabia with the help of middlemen and Haque recruiting agency in Banani.
However, Haque International Company, Haque Aviation and Haque Overseas could not be reached over a phone number posted the on website of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira).
Replying to another query, Aftab’s uncle said he has no idea of the government’s move to lower the migration cost.
The government decided to fix Tk 27,925 as migration cost for Saudi Arabia, but it is yet to be made public, officials said.
Asadul Islam, joint secretary to expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry, prepared the proposed migration cost.
When asked, he told daily sun that the proposal will not bring any result if it is not approved.
Steps should be taken to implement the decision, he said. “We have made a draft of the proposed migration cost and sent it to the ministry.”
Ali Haidar Chowdhury, secretary general of Baira, said, “We do not think recruiting agencies are charging high.”
If any allegation is brought against any agency, Baira will look into the matter, he told daily sun.
Meanwhile, over one thousand cheated migrant workers submitted allegations in BMET that they were not sent abroad for jobs or they had to return home finding no jobs as per contract.
News Source:
The Daily Sun