About 86 per cent of women migrant workers who have returned to the country are facing uncertainty over their livelihood because of the Coronavirus pandemic, according to a study.
Worried about their children's education and their future, they are also facing food shortage. They even cannot afford treatment for Covid-19, it showed.
The Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra (BNSK) conducted the study titled 'Covid-19 Pandemics and Women Migrant Workers: Service Delivery Mechanism and the Way Forward' on 241 women workers during March and June.
Of the total respondents, 165 returned before the pandemic and 34 during the pandemic while 42 are still working abroad. They worked in different countries including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan and Lebanon.
During the survey, about 64 per cent of the respondents said they are facing food shortage due to loss of income while 63 per cent do not have the money to pay for the treatment for Covid-19.
Some 23 per cent of the returnee workers expressed concern that they might not afford their children's education in the coming days.
The study also revealed that the working migrant workers are facing various kinds of obstacles in their job-destination countries.
Excessive workload, irregular payment of wages and abuses are common problem they are facing during the pandemic, the research showed.
The study revealed that the workload of domestic helps has increased by over 60 per cent during the pandemic due to the lockdown. On the other hand, only 22 per cent of the workers said they received meals regularly.
Some 44 per cent of the returnee women workers had to take care of sick people before and after the pandemic started. But only 65 per cent of them had the personal protection gear.
About 73 per cent of the women migrant workers said they are facing physical violence during the lockdown period.
Sumaiya Islam, executive director of BNSK, said the authorities should give special focus on returnee women workers while allocating funds provided by the government.
She also put emphasis on taking up training and reintegration programme and income-generating activities for the women workers.
She said that the BNSK will start a reintegration programme soon for the returnee women workers.
She also demanded that the authorities ensure proper workplace security of women workers during the pandemic.
