Owing to the offer of higher income, international migration holds much appeal to a large number of Bangladeshis. High cost and risk of failures, however, are synonymous with this sector. Even if a worker successfully migrates to the destination country, studies show that few returns with a positive experience. Together with the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery (GFEMS), we have conducted a study to analyze this disturbing scenario. It was found that vulnerabilities occur at roughly five overlapping levels: migrant, middleman, recruitment agency, employer, and embassy. While some of the vulnerabilities require only migrants’ awareness to be eliminated, others need strong government intervention.
Researchers: Pallavi Prabhakar; Dr Munshi Sulaiman; Dr Narayan C. Das; Lopita Huq; Md. Shakil Ahmed
Partners: BRAC; Global Fund to End Modern Slavery (GFEMS)
Timeline: 2018-2019
Status: Completed
Contact: Dr Munshi Sulaiman; munshi.sulaiman@bracu.ac.bd
Publication
Context
Each year over 400,000 workers from Bangladesh seek employment opportunities abroad to escape poverty. But many of these workers, especially those who migrate to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, are subjected to varying degrees of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse; restrictions on freedom of movement; confiscation of identity documents; withholding wages; threats and intimidation; social exclusion; limited workplace health and safety (WHS); and receive little to no support from the embassy. To reduce the recurring incidences of forced labour and achieve the Target 8.7 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which ensures the eradication of forced labour and modern slavery, there is an urgent need for policy formation based on the identified causes and sources of vulnerabilities of migrants working overseas.
Objectives
The objectives of this study were to trace the factors that make migrants vulnerable to forced labour; identify the countries and migration channels that are predisposed to exploitation; assess the impact of forced labour on the lives of migrants and their families, and form future policy recommendations to reduce migrants’ vulnerabilities.
This study is relevant to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), particularly to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Methodology
In this study, we followed an iterative approach to beneficiary vulnerability assessment through qualitative and quantitative research methods. Among the qualitative methods, we reviewed 100 pre-existing case studies from BRAC Migration Program. Moreover, four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with men and women from Munshiganj and Narsingdi. We also conducted 16 in-depth case studies of male and female migrants in Munshiganj, Tangail, and Narsingdi. To collect our quantitative data, we conducted a follow-up survey on 170 migrants working in GCC countries from the list of 400 migrants identified in the BRAC’s 2017 phone survey.
Findings and Recommendations
Study findings show that as the process of migration begins with the migrants themselves, so does their vulnerability. One of the crucial indicators of vulnerability in this regard is the socio-economic status of the migrants. Those who aspire to migrate often have to sell various household assets or borrow a large sum of money to arrange the migration cost. Later because of this debt burden, they are compelled to work under harsh, unfair, and abusive conditions in the destination country. Moreover, the low educational level of migrants prevents them from gaining the necessary information regarding labour laws and the overseas migration process. And that is where middlemen (dalals) come in, who work as the only bridge between migrants and recruitment agencies. They are entrusted by migrants to walk them through the process. But in reality, they are responsible for outrageously overcharging the migrants, misdirecting them with false information, providing fake documents, passport racketeering, and even illegal migration. Even if one escapes from the vortex of middlemen, migrants can still become vulnerable to deception and fraudulence by the recruitment agencies because of their dependence on middlemen and delay in passport and ticket delivery. We have also found that migrants can become vulnerable in destination countries. Returnee migrants often report employer’s hostile and abusive behaviours who force them to work under inhumane conditions, withhold salary, deny proper food and adequate sleep, and keep them in social isolation. Furthermore, the embassies of Bangladesh play no active role in monitoring the condition of Bangladeshi workers. From our findings, women appeared to be more vulnerable than men due to the nature of their work in foreign countries and status in the homeland.
In this perplexing situation, GFEMS and the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) should train and sensitize migrants on migration-related information and safety and protection mechanisms. The government should also take steps to establish accountability mechanisms for recruitment agencies, middlemen, and embassies.
