Preparatory training for migration aspirant women held

A two-day preparatory training programme for women domestic workers travelling to the Middle East was organised jointly by Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS) and Young Women for Development Rights and Climate (YWDRC), with the objective of preparing women intending to work as domestic workers in the Middle East for safe migration, potential workplace risks, and the protection of their rights, dignity and personal safety. The training was held on 21–22 September 2026 at the Nari Unnayan Shakti Training Centre, with support from FCHD, DWEAB and SheLeads.

The training was coordinated by Nusrat Sultana Afroj, Executive Chairperson of Young Women for Development Rights and Climate. The sessions were facilitated by Afroja Parvin, Abdul Momin and Selina Khatun. The training covered essential areas of pre-departure preparation, including employment conditions, workplace conduct, personal safety, workers’ rights, emergency response, and mechanisms for seeking assistance in situations involving exploitation, abuse or other forms of mistreatment.

The real-life experiences of three women domestic workers who had returned from the Middle East were shared during the training. Jhinuk, Monisha and Firoza spoke about their experiences, providing participants with a direct account of the difficult and often distressing circumstances faced by women domestic workers abroad. They reported that they were frequently required to perform excessive and unbearable workloads, were not provided with adequate opportunities for rest, and experienced humiliating treatment, physical and psychological abuse, as well as, in some cases, severe sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by male members of their employers’ households.

One of the returnee women stated that domestic workers are sometimes treated as though they are “slaves” and that some perpetrators do not regard sexual exploitation as wrongdoing, while resistance to such abuse may result in physical violence. All three women reported that they were paid less than the wages agreed upon in their employment arrangements. They also described difficulties in maintaining regular communication with their families and the insecurity they experienced in their workplaces.

Drawing on their own experiences, the returnee women emphasised that pre-departure preparation must go beyond learning domestic work. They stressed the importance of having adequate language skills and understanding the terms and conditions of employment, working hours, agreed wages, living arrangements, whom to contact in the event of problems with employers, and how to obtain immediate assistance if subjected to abuse or exploitation. The training also emphasised that women should give the highest priority to their personal safety, should not remain silent when subjected to abuse or injustice, and should seek timely assistance from relevant authorities and support organisations whenever necessary.

The closing session of the two-day training was presided over by Dr Afroja Parvin, Executive Director of Nari Unnayan Shakti. In her remarks, she emphasised that women migrant workers, who make an important contribution to their families and the national economy through their earnings and remittances, must be adequately prepared before travelling abroad for employment. She stated that every woman should be informed about potential risks and equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect her rights, dignity and personal safety.

The trainers stressed that women need to understand the realities they may encounter before departure so that they do not find themselves in vulnerable or helpless situations after reaching their destination. She also emphasised that government support for pre-departure training and orientation for women migrant workers is essential. The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to continuing awareness-raising, skills development and capacity-building initiatives to protect the rights, safety, dignity and well-being of women migrant workers.