While 2023 marked a record-breaking year for labor migration, with over 1.3 million workers seeking opportunities abroad, a concerning trend emerged as the number of female migrants witnessed a significant decrease. Despite an average of over 100,000 migrants heading abroad each month, only 77,263 were females in pursuit of job opportunities.
Experts in the migration sector pointed out that mandatory training for sending female migrants to destinations like Saudi Arabia is often overlooked, and when implemented, questions arise about the quality of the training. Many female migrants returning home report instances of torture and harassment in destination countries, contributing to the decline in female migration.
Statistics from the Bangladesh Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) reveal that the highest number of female migrants, 121,925, went abroad in 2017. However, this number declined in 2023 despite the surge in overall labor migration. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which initially led to a decrease in female migrations in 2020, seems to have persisted.
The majority of female migrants head to Saudi Arabia for housemaid roles, and various challenges, including illness, homesickness, low wages, language barriers, and allegations of physical and mental torture, have been on the rise. The signing of an agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2015 opened avenues for female migrants from Bangladesh.
Returned female migrants often share harrowing tales of mistreatment, with some seeking refuge in safe homes. The two-year agreement terms are not always fulfilled, leading to premature returns, and some migrants face challenges such as work pressure, language barriers, and difficulties adjusting to local food.
Officials from different government departments acknowledge the complexities surrounding female migration and the need for enhanced protection measures. The narratives surrounding female workers impact the willingness of new aspirants to go abroad, contributing to delays in sending female workers and creating a gap filled by hiring workers from other countries.
Development organization BRAC’s migration program actively supports returned female migrant workers, addressing incidents of harassment and torture. However, the lack of accurate data on returning migrant workers remains a challenge for the government.
Farida Yeasmin, an Adviser to the Bangladeshi Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA) and a Supreme Court lawyer, emphasizes that despite amendments to the Migration Act, the specific issue of protecting female migrants has not been adequately addressed. The absence of ensured security for women abroad and the prevalence of harassment contribute to their reluctance to pursue opportunities overseas, further impacting the overall landscape of migration.
