Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM) and Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Uni RMMRU in collaboration with MFA and PROKAS, organised an online national launch event of the study titled Addressing Systemic Challenges of Wage Theft: Bangladesh COVID-19 Returnees from the Gulf States Under the backdrop of a study on the experience of 1160 Bangladeshi migrant workers from six Gulf states who endured wage theft and returned after February 2020. The national launch brought together more than 70 participants including government officials, representatives of civil society organisations, NGO/INGOs and media. It gathered wide coverage on a total of 21 English and Bangla newspapers and TV channels. The objective of this online national launch event was to highlight the findings of the study on wage theft and issues of access to justice experienced by migrant workers from Bangladesh, during the COVID-19 pandemic and providing recommendations based on the findings. As part of the global campaign Justice for Wage Theft, RMMRU has conducted this study and recently the highlights of this study were presented at a regional launching programme organised by the Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
Joanna Yu, Programme Assistant, MFA said, “Wage theft is a long-standing issue, which is highlighted during the pandemic, and it has become a global issue. Countries of Origins must come together to raise this issue nationally and globally and participate in the campaign to get the migrants’ due wages” She also noted that the lack of information also plays a crucial role in it. Most of the migrants are unaware of the complaint mechanism and it is evident that migrants are unwilling to file complaints due to their fear of being blacklisted in the country of destination which will affect remigration.
Dr Nurul Islam, Former Director of BMET, put forward four proposals to prevent wage theft: 1) to establish a platform/commission which will work to retrieve the lost wages 2) importance has to be given in preserving important documents of migrant workers. 3) to discuss the matter with importance in the Joint Technical Committee. 4) to put forward strong demands in this regard through regional forums. He believes the issue of wage theft has come to light again due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Migration expert Asif Munier thinks the issue of wage theft needs to be discussed in the international arena and international organisations can play a role in retrieving the lost wages. Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, former secretary-general of BAIRA said to create an inter-ministerial connection, a cell can be created so that the migration issues can be resolved. He concedes a desk should be established for the workers who have returned and are victims of wage theft that will collect detailed information on the returned migrants. Shirin Lira, Sr. IBP Manager and Gender & Inclusion Adviser, PROKAS, British Council said “if we work on the issue of wage theft at the national, regional and international levels starting from now, maybe in the future we will be able to prevent wage theft.” and believes the issue of wage theft has to be included in the migration cycle so that the migrants can be aware of it.