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Returnees protest unfair arbitration

One migrant spent Tk 4.5 lakh only to get Tk 15,000 as compensation

Staff Correspondent
A group of around 60 migrant workers formed a human chain inside the manpower bureau premises at Kakrail yesterday protesting what they termed unfair arbitration to the returnee migrants.
They said they went abroad with emigration clearances of Bureau of Manpower Employment and Draining (BMET) but were forced to return following various forms of exploitation and irregularities by the recruiting agencies.
Upon return, they sought justice at BMET, the only place they have to seek redress, but were subjected to negligence, harassment and injus-
tice by BMET as the appeals went pending for months and even years, they said.
Talking to The Daily Star, Jahurul Islam, a returnee from Singapore, said, "The investigation officers appear to favour the recruiting agencies.
“We have to come to the offices again and again but in the end we are asked to reach a compromise after being provided a very negligible amount of money."
Jahurul went to Singapore early 2008, but was not provided with an appropriate job and salary and was sent home after a year.
Islam complained to BMET early May this year. In the first two hear-
ings, officials of his recruiting agency, BD Associates, were not present. In the next two hearings, the officials asked him to reach a compromise for Tk 15,000, which was also echoed by BMET's investigation officer, said Jahurul.
"The agency's official even humiliated me in front of the investigation officer who remained silent," he said, adding that he had spent Tk 4.5 lakh to go to Singapore.
Returnees from Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Libya were among the victims, he added.
The protesting migrant workers under the banner "Survivors' Voice" submitted a memorandum to Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas
Employment Minister Khandker MosharrafHossain through BMET.
In the memorandum, they demanded BMET for a fair arbitration, to allow migrants' legal representatives in the hearing, its completion in two months and declaration of the verdict in favour of the complainant when the accused remains absent twice consecutively.
They also demanded a stop to investigation officers' pressure for compromise, compensation from wage earners' welfare fund and then realising it from the recruiting agencies responsible and imposition of a Tk 2 lakh fine on the agency for physical, social and mental trauma.