When dreams turn into debts
FROM PAGE 12
conducted by the Obhibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (Okup).
The study indicated that over 53 percent of the returnees afflicted with mental health issues are male, and 47 percent are female.
Of those suffering from physical health problems, over 56 percent are male and 44 are female.
The study also found that over 19 percent of those suffering from severe mental health issues were domestic workers, followed by construction and agriculture workers.
Over 55 percent of returnees came from Saudi Arabia, followed by 10 percent from Oman, seven percent from Jordan, five percent from the UAE, four percent from Qatar, and 19 percent from other countries.
The study further revealed that returnees who had stayed abroad for two to four years often returned with severe health issues.
The most common ailments included back pain (25 percent), tumours (12 percent), cardiac and injury-related complications (11 percent), and other severe conditions such as cancer (nine percent), kidney issues (eight percent), uterine infections (eight percent) and hypertension (six percent).
The study also pointed out policy gaps and a lack of efforts by the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry and Wage Earners Welfare Board to provide health services to migrants.
The study surveyed 1,096 returnees from seven migrant-heavy districts -- Cumilla, Dhaka, Faridpur, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Manikganj, and Munshiganj -- between 2021 and 2023, all of whom received health and mental support from Okup during this period.
Of the respondents, 39 percent were male, and 61 percent were female.
At the event, three victims who went to Saudi Arabia in good health but returned with physical and mental health issues shared their experiences.
Shefali Begum, a resident of Narsingdi, went to the middle eastern country as a domestic worker. She returned in just 48 days with physical illnesses.
“A broker lured me with promises of good pay. For a better future for my three daughters, I went to Saudi Arabia, paying a hefty amount to the broker. I was provided only one meal a day for lunch. The male members of the employer’s family used to harass me. Whenever I complained or asked for food, they would beat me. They burned my hand with acid and kept me locked in a room.”
She demanded reimbursement for her treatment costs, but the employer refused. Later, she was forced to return home.
Md Hanif, a resident of Narayanganj’s Araihazar upazila, spent Tk 4 lakh to go to Saudi Arabia. Once he was there, he was kept in a room with 20 to 25 others.
“I was not given a job for a month, had no access to food, and was kept in an unhygienic environment with no drinking water or toilet facilities. This led to me developing type-2 diabetes and urinary problems.”
Eventually, he managed to return to the country.
Speaking to The Daily Star, migration expert Prof CR Abrar noted that the health issues of migrant workers have long been neglected.
“The insurance we currently have for migrants has no value, as it doesn’t cover most health issues. Those who work under private employers are in the worst condition, as they do not have access to healthcare, which is a glaring example of gross unfairness.”
He highlighted the key problem: “We don’t address this issue at the global forum, either individually or collectively, to find solutions.”
Prof Abrar emphasised that the responsibility of bearing the healthcare costs of migrant workers must be taken by the employer or the state. “Otherwise, this critical issue will remain unaddressed.”
Shariful Hasan, associate director of the BRAC Migration Programme, opined that if the government becomes a little cordial about migrant workers’ health and prioritises the issue, the problem can be solved.
“The income of migrant workers in the Gulf countries is so low that they cannot afford access to healthcare. Additionally, the language barrier is another significant challenge. To address this, embassies can conduct special campaigns in areas with high numbers of migrant workers. When they return home, the government can provide them with treatment at specialised, dedicated hospitals. This would greatly help solve the problem.”