Jatiya Party (JaPa) and Gano Forum lawmakers have demanded sending female manpower to Saudi Arabia for domestic work be stopped as they often face physical assault and harassment.
In reply, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed on Tuesday (Nov 12) at the parliament, said that the government is very worried about the matter, reports UNB.
During the question-answer session, JaPa MPs Kazi Firoz Rashid and Mujibul Huq Chunnu, and Gano Forum MP Sultan Muhammed Mansur Ahmed raised the issue separately.
“We have taken steps to send female workers after training on various protective measures. If it seems that this is completely impossible, then we will think of not sending any female worker (to Saudi Arabia),” the minister said.
Minister Imran also said he called in the Chargé d'affaires of the Saudi Arab Mission in Dhaka and, discussed the matter.
He mentioned that the Bangladesh envoy in Saudi Arabia has been directed to raise the issue with the Foreign Ministry of that country.
“A joint technical group will sit on Nov 26-27 in Saudi Arabia and the matter will be raised there,” the minister added.
He said manpower export fully depends on the demand of the respective country. “Our efforts will be to ensure dignified jobs for women. If we see this is not possible to ensure, we will then think to stop it.”
In the last couple of months, Imran Ahmed said, the government has suspended the licences of 160 travel agencies, while revoked that of three.