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Persecutors of women workers in Saudi to face trial: BAIRA

Malaysia labour market to open soon


Published : 03 Sep 2019 08:20 PM | Updated : 01 Sep 2020 08:56 AM

Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) President Benjir Ahmed said that the persecutors of women workers in Saudi Arabia will be brought under trial. He said, “When we informed the concerned ministry from BAIRA about the persecution of women workers in Saudi Arabia, they gave us positive response about the trial. We want that the recruiter who recruit the women workers, they will also be brought under trial for persecution.”

Bangladesh sent about 200,000 women workers following a contract with Saudi Arabia in 2015. But sadly a total of 387 Bangladeshi female workers were forced to return home with horrible experiences of torture by their employers in Saudi Arabia amidst claims from the government officials that Bangladeshi women are doing well there.

Earlier, a group of 360 women returned to Bangladesh between May and June 10, as they were tortured and violated by their Saudi employers. According to Brac, around 5,000 female workers have returned to Bangladesh in the last three years, sources said. Meanwhile, Benajir also expressed his hope that the labour market of Malaysia is going to open for Bangladeshi workers soon. Benjir Ahmed, also a parliament member, said this while speaking at a view-exchange meeting on ‘labour market of Malaysia and Saudi Arab’ with media at BAIRA Bhaban in the capital on Tuesday.

About sending workers to the overseas, he said, “We have no syndicate. However, I cannot guarantee whether the syndicate will be there in the future.” He also said, “I will not give any guarantee whether any syndicate will be involved in the future. But, I can say there is no syndicate now. It is a big sector and we want to work together.”

Replying to a query about training center, he said, “There is no scope of forming any syndicate over the issue of training center.” Asked whether any of BAIRA members is responsible for 15 percent decline in labour export, Benjir said, “Many countries including Saudi Arabia have reduced taking labourers. Apart from this, labour market of Malaysia, Dubai and Qatar are off now. So, the labor export has naturally dropped. There are allegations of a vested quarter is trying to form syndicate.”

About Japanese labour market, he said, “This is now in primary stage. Hopefully, we will get the opportunity to export expert workers in Japan as well.”