Maids find it hard to seek jobs overseas

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Female workers seeking jobs as domestic help in Middle Eastern countries are losing out on valuable job opportunities as the stringent rules set by the government make it very difficult for them to secure a work visa.

A good number of work visas acquired, but not approved by the government for non-adherence to procedures under new rules, have expired or are on the verge of expiry, businessmen and researchers say.

An official of the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry has said that the government has already taken initiatives to review the rules, which it also apprehends might be creating difficulties.

Under present guidelines visas, demand letters or other documents have to be processed by recruiting agencies of Bangladesh and the employing country, and not by individuals.

According to new rules published in the gazette on September 1 last year, Bangladesh missions concerned have to attest all employment documents of domestic workers as well as the contracts between the recruiting agencies from both countries.

The gazette explained that the rules were made to ensure that domestic aides, if ever the need arises, can be identified and the agencies through which they were recruited be held accountable.

An expert however said that such stringent laws for protection of women workers might actually contribute to an increase in illegal migration since agencies and brokers are trying to find alternatives to the rules.

Some agencies complain that Bangladesh missions abroad do not cooperate with the paperwork.

“I have sent all necessary documents to be attested to our embassy in Oman a few months ago, but have received no response since,” a recruiting agent said.

“The government must ensure that its own agencies cooperate duly,” said Abdul Alim, owner of SA Trading.

Some fear that prospective employers might be shying away from recruiting from Bangladesh because of the stringent rules they need to adhere to in order to hire workers from here.

An official of the recruiting agency Rabbi International said they have not received any visas in the last four months though they have been sending female workers to Saudi Arabia for long time now.

Therese Blanchet, director of Drishti Research Centre, which conducts research on female migration, said: “The new rules are creating frustration as long waits lead to expiration of workers’ documents and many women have already lost the money they paid in advance for the jobs.”

“Recruiting agents and brokers are exploring alternative routes as they face pressure to clear their documents faster. Far from being protected, women may end up not getting the jobs,” she pointed out.

Expatriates’ welfare ministry Joint Secretary Mansur Raja Chowdhury said the government is considering relaxing some rules regarding visas.

Asked for comments on allegations that many work visas expired because the government has not approved those on time, he said that the government had in fact — since the new rules were implemented on September 1 last year — extended time up to March 2 this year to approve the visas secured by previous procedures.

“We are looking into the matter and consulting the issue with agencies and others concerned,” Mansur said.

Middle East is the main destination for the unskilled female labour. Demand for domestic help from Bangladesh is on the rise as Sri Lanka, India and the Philippines have recently hiked wages for female workers.

A total of 5,906 female workers left for overseas jobs upto April this year. In 2007, the figure for the same quarter was 19,094.

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