The outflow of women migrant workers increased by 75 per cent in the first five months of this year following demands for the workers from different countries in the Middle East (ME).
Data released by the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) showed as many as 50,363 women workers went to different job destination countries during the January-May period of the current calendar year.
The country sent 28,825 women workers in the first five months of 2021.
Manpower recruiters expected that such an uptrend would continue and more than 0.1 million female workers would get overseas jobs in 2022.
They sought necessary supports from the government which can help them to send more female workers abroad through ensuring security.
Bangladeshi women found jobs in 15 countries during the period in review. Among them, the highest 31,710 or about 63 per cent were hired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Countries like Oman hired 9,139 women, Jordan 7,312, Qatar 928, and the United Arab Emirates or UAE 762.
Statistics available with the manpower bureau show 80,143 women went abroad with jobs in 2021.
Migrant rights activists, however, call for ensuring safe migration and utilising their remittances at home for their empowerment.
Shakirul Islam, chiarman of Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) said women migrants are still vulnareble in workplace as protection system is not proper in destination countries.
On the other hand, they face social stigma upon return home, he noted.
They cannot utilise their remittances in proper way to improve their economic condition, he said.
The rights activist emphasised on raising awareness from government and community level.
He also suggested providing supports for developing their economic condition through using their income properly.
Source countries (countries that send workers) should raise voice in international forums for the rights and protection of women workers in destination countries, he added.
More than 1.0-million Bangladeshi women have gone abroad with jobs since 1991, according to the BMET data.
