Staff Reporter :
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said that about 99 percent Bangladeshi female workers in Saudi Arabia are living safe and sound adding that the the government had not yet taken any decision as to what be done with the future of Bangladeshi female workers in Saudi Arabia.
“More than two lakh and 70 thousand Bangladeshi women are working in
Saudi Arabia. A total of 8,000 of them returned home so far but 53 died. That means about 99 percent migrant women in Saudi Arabia are doing well and remitting to money to home,” said the Foreign Minister at a press conference in his ministry.
He said, many female workers narrated the stories of woes after return, but did not say us in time.
“We have opened shelter for tortured female workers there. If they tell everything they face in the country during staying in those shelter homes, then it would be easy for us to file cases against those employers,” he said.
The minister said also that the government has also opened a 24-hour hotline there (Saudi Arabia) for vulnerable women. Saudi government is very quick to take action, Momen said.
“But the tortured women said it after returning home,” the foreign minister said. The minister said that he discussed the matter with Expatriate Welfare Minister, but yet to decide about the Bangladeshi female migrants in Saudi Arabia.
The foreign minister said about six lakh female Bangladeshi workers are working abroad.
A huge number of Bangladeshi women migrants are earning money in Saudi Arabia and sending to their families. But many will lose this opportunity if we stop.
Momen said that he asked the recruiting agencies to register names of women workers sent to Saudi Arabia as domestic help. It would then make it easier for us to track them when they need any help, he added.
The minister also said that all migrant workers are not tortured. Many of them were tortured for their own faults.
They cannot cook foods well which their employers like. Many of them failed to understand their language. Proper training before sending them abroad may decrease such plights.
The foreign minister said, recently Sumi Akhter, a migrant worker urged to return home through a uploaded video. We have taken steps and brought her home back.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said that about 99 percent Bangladeshi female workers in Saudi Arabia are living safe and sound adding that the the government had not yet taken any decision as to what be done with the future of Bangladeshi female workers in Saudi Arabia.
“More than two lakh and 70 thousand Bangladeshi women are working in
Saudi Arabia. A total of 8,000 of them returned home so far but 53 died. That means about 99 percent migrant women in Saudi Arabia are doing well and remitting to money to home,” said the Foreign Minister at a press conference in his ministry.
He said, many female workers narrated the stories of woes after return, but did not say us in time.
“We have opened shelter for tortured female workers there. If they tell everything they face in the country during staying in those shelter homes, then it would be easy for us to file cases against those employers,” he said.
The minister said also that the government has also opened a 24-hour hotline there (Saudi Arabia) for vulnerable women. Saudi government is very quick to take action, Momen said.
“But the tortured women said it after returning home,” the foreign minister said. The minister said that he discussed the matter with Expatriate Welfare Minister, but yet to decide about the Bangladeshi female migrants in Saudi Arabia.
The foreign minister said about six lakh female Bangladeshi workers are working abroad.
A huge number of Bangladeshi women migrants are earning money in Saudi Arabia and sending to their families. But many will lose this opportunity if we stop.
Momen said that he asked the recruiting agencies to register names of women workers sent to Saudi Arabia as domestic help. It would then make it easier for us to track them when they need any help, he added.
The minister also said that all migrant workers are not tortured. Many of them were tortured for their own faults.
They cannot cook foods well which their employers like. Many of them failed to understand their language. Proper training before sending them abroad may decrease such plights.
The foreign minister said, recently Sumi Akhter, a migrant worker urged to return home through a uploaded video. We have taken steps and brought her home back.
