Distressed foreign job seekers

In both the instances Bangladeshis seeking livelihood abroad were made the victims of diabolical designs of some unscrupulous among the manpower and travel agents both at home and abroad. Each of the unfortunate victims had to pay between six and eight lakh takas for the elusive employment overseas.

It is no secret that exploitation of the job seekers has become rather commonplace in the freewheeling and dealing environment of manpower business in Bangladesh. Many, finding no job opportunity in Bangladesh, fall victim to the lure and enticement of the eldorado and the corrupt machinations of manpower agents, only to be left high and dry, some literally on the high seas. Those lucky to survive the ordeal returned home but only as paupers.

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In our eagerness to export manpower, the laxity in oversight of the agencies, in some cases deliberate due to the collusive arrangements of the relevant government organisation and the manpower recruiting agencies, becomes a recurrent feature. The wrong doings and the shortcuts that the recalcitrant recruiters resort to make it imperative that constant vigil is maintained by the government agencies on their activities.

We feel that the problem needs to be addressed in a comprehensive manner and there are at least three ways in which this can be done. First, exemplary punishment must be meted out to those found involved in this sort of manpower business which is tantamount to trafficking in persons. Second, there is need for stringent monitoring of all manpower related activities. Basically, there is need for building awareness at the village and ward levels about all aspects of foreign employment including the traps laid by the racketeers to induce the credulous out of their homes and cheat them out of their money.

The ministry for expatriate welfare may consider forming a special cell in this regard to spare Bangladeshis the fate that some of their compatriots have had to face recently.