Desk report: Migrant rights organisations recently launched an online campaign for providing emergency support to the returnee female workers, who are in a vulnerable situation because of COVID-19 pandemic.
Anirban Survivor Voice and Bhalobashi Bangladesh, platforms of migrant workers, jointly took the initiative for assisting the returnee female workers, said Mohammad Harun Al Rashid, coordinator of Bhalobashi Bangladesh.
He said a large number of Bangladeshi female workers returned home from different countries over the last few years due to various factors, like – workplace harassments, denial of due wage, and cheating by manpower recruiters. They were struggling to survive after coming back to the country.
But currently their condition has become more vulnerable following countrywide lockdown, enfeorced by the government to prevent the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have taken the initiative, considering such an adverse condition of the female workers,” he added.
On the other hand, Al Amin Noyon, president of Anirban Survivors Voice, said they are receiving a notable number of calls from returnee female workers since the platform was launched on April 17. They give Tk 1,500 to each woman for meeting up two weeks’ expenses.
He urged solvent people to donate for the workers, as they could arrange fund for only 20 women. People who want to donate can call the number 01712197854.
According to the welfare desk at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and rights activists, at least 10,000 female workers returned home from different Middle-East countries in last four years.
Of them, 1,500 domestic helps returned from Saudi Arabia alone in 2019. During the January-February period of this year 350 women were sent home from the country.
