A total of 4,78,623 Bangladeshi female workers went to 68 countries over the last 12 years with BMET “no objection certificate”, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam BSc said on Tuesday.
“According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) database, 4,78,623 Bangladeshi female workers went to 68 countries from June 15, 2004 to April 18, 2016 with the BMET no objection certificate,” he said in reply to a starred question from treasury bench member Begum Sanjida Khanam(women seat-24).
The minister said the present government has undertaken various measures for making safe the immigration of female workers.
The steps, he said, include imparting 30-day (mandatory) training to the female workers intending to go abroad and making them aware about rules, regulation, job nature, environment and safety of the concerned countries.
Nurul Islam said five “safe homes” have been opened in Oman; Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates under the supervision of Bangladesh embassies to ensure security of the female workers.
He said special attention is being given to the rights to the female workers during signing of MoUs and agreements with different countries.
Besides, monitoring cells have been opened at Bangladesh missions and the BMET to supervise overall condition of the female workers, the minister informed.
Following a bilateral discussion with the Bangladesh government, he said, the Saudi government has introduced a “hotline” for safety of the Bangladeshi female workers.
“The female workers, if needed, could get remedy of their problems by making phone calls on the hotline,” Nurul Islam said.