Protection, dignity of women migrant workers urged

May 3, 2025

Staff Reporter :

Women-led organisations have called for ensuring protection and dignity for women workers to the government
Women-led organizations also presented 20 specific demands to two key ministries of the Government of Bangladesh, calling for urgent actions to protect and uphold the rights of women workers.
On the occasion of International Labour Day, Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS) has organized the discussion for combating sexual harassment and wage discrimination in workplace.
The participating organizations – NUS, Young Women for ez Development Rights and Climate (YWDRC), Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA), Forum for Culture and Human Development (FCHD), AVAS, and Love Thy Neighbour (LTN) – emphasized that both domestic and migrant women workers continue to face sexual harassment, insecurity, and labor discrimination on a daily basis.
They stated that this is not only a social issue but also a serious human rights and state-level crisis. They demanded to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment 10 different points including introduce mandatory “Safety and Rights Training” for women workers before migration,establish 24/7 “Women Support Desks” with hotlines at all Bangladesh embassies abroad, ensure rehabilitation, psychological support, and legal assistance for women workers returning after sexual abuse, formulate new policies for sending women workers to high-risk countries, guarantee wage and dignity equality between male and female migrant workers.
Furthermore, they pointed out 10 demands to the Ministry of Labour and Employment including make it mandatory to formulate “Self-Guidelines” and establish “Complaint Committees” in every workplace,enforce compulsory training as per Labour Act 2006 and its 2018 amendment,ensure gender equality in wages, promotions, and leave policies,introduce CCTV surveillance, female security personnel, and workplace hotlines.
The organizations collectively stated that although women’s contribution to national economic development is recognized, they continue to face violence and discrimination in real workplace environments. Hence, visible and immediate state action is urgently needed.