The fierceness of opposition by recruitment agencies to the government's G2G (government to government) agreements for sending workforce abroad wasn't surprising. Figures aren't readily available but it can be safely surmised that of the 350,000 unfortunate workers diving for cover to evade being deported from Malaysia, the majority will have gone through the agencies. Similar stories are reported from the Middle East, Saudi Arabia in particular. These unfortunates are realising the hard way that it isn't enough to mortgage everything they had and borrow to their teeth to find decent employment. In alien, unfriendly conditions they have only fate to depend on.
The government missions are unable to provide support and the High Commissioner to Malaysia sounded defeated in his statement that those possessing e-documents should be rehired.
When it comes to expatriate employment, it sounds incomprehensible that viable and enforceable guarantee of employment isn't in place. And whether government or private agencies are involved, there has to be a grievance cell of sorts that will look after these aspects, including the rights to proper accommodation beyond the proverbial 'sardine' packing. Timely payments, and more importantly, payment as stipulated have to be ensured. Legal assistance is an absolute imperative. Yet when it comes to manning at the missions there are no expatriate workforce cells or legal cells. Preposterous but true, the government looks to these unfortunates for the precious remittance, through official channels, that usually cost more but doesn't want to spend money in protecting their rights, privileges or assistance that they are entitled to. A few months ago, due to the usual Saudi whim, workforce went without food because they weren't paid. The Indian government reacted quickly to send food supplies. As for us, we did essentially sat on our hands and thought if Bengali resilience to tide them through.
The contrast is cruel. Second-homers beaming back images of their Eid-holidays and the senders of remittances, from which they spend freely, are in hiding, at times hungry and homeless. Just as pathetic is the return of the second-homers with luggage stuffed with goodies, breezing through customs and the returning expatriates subjected to the most embarrassing scrutiny by customs and immigration alike. When they depart, the experience is worse. Lined up in gaudy uniforms almost as if they're being herded off to some concentration camp. Indeed, on arrival at the destination, dreams die hard and most are taken to places that can only be described as despicable.
In the occasional talk-show or documentary interviews, the expatriates ask for little. That these voices are not heard is a tragedy. Garments exporters are powerful, into politics and treated like VIPs. Can anyone recall a single expatriate worker's family member being invited to the must-attend receptions at Gonobhaban or Bangabhaban? No. They don't count. Â But if the rest of Europe starts following France's example of allowing only 40 per cent of earnings by expatriates to be remitted, the writing will really be on the wall.Â
mahmudrahman@gmail.com
Dishonourable retreat
Mahmudur Rahman | Published: July 05, 2017 19:14:21 | Updated: October 23, 2017 07:30:52
Dishonourable retreat
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