Frauds by Recruiting Agents

Families of migrants are worst sufferers

14 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Family members of migrant workers are the worst sufferers of recruiting agents' fraudulent activities such as providing fake travel and work documents, giving false hope of better jobs and misappropriating money, speakers at a national dialogue said yesterday. Such frauds must be stopped to ensure safe migration, said Industries Minister Dilip Barua as the chief guest at the dialogue organised by the Centre for Development Dialogue (CDD) in the city. There are many families who have lost their lands, money and social capital to frauds by middlemen or dishonest agents, he said. The dialogue titled 'Impact of migration on families' was organised to mark the International Day of Families, which will be celebrated worldwide on May 15. At the programme, Kazi Ali Reza, officer-in-charge of the United Nations Information Centre (Dhaka), read out a message of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Ban Ki-moon called on the governments to implement policies that help migrants adapt and prosper in their host countries. He also called for ratifying and implementing the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrants Workers and Members of their Families. “Despite its many benefits, migration also places heavy burdens on family members. Migrants can face harsh living conditions, discriminations and low wages. They often lack safety nets and suffer disproportionately in times of economic hardship.” CDD Chairperson Mirza Tarequl Qader, Secretary General SM Murshed and Vice-Chairperson Sakila Matin Mridula and Dr Naznin Akhter of BIDS also spoke. Meanwhile, the United Nations Information Centre in Dhaka, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and the Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP) jointly organised a seminar on 'Challenges to the security of the human family' at WVA auditorium to mark the Day.