The Bangladesh Women Migrants’ Association (BWMA) started its activities in 2002 with only female migrant workers from Bangladesh. Both the returnee and outgoing female migrant workers are its members. Its activities are mainly concentrated in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Manikganj, Sylhet and Gazipur. The aims of this organisation are to: (a) Establish the principle that women can achieve their target through hard work, democratic process and abiding by the rules of law; (b) Bring the women migrants’ issues in the forefront through organising them; (c) Work for the development of the process of female migration from Bangladesh; (d) Provide information to the aspirant female migrants about the proper process of migration to raise awareness among them so that they do not fall victims to trafficking; (e) Provide outgoing migrants with information on the environment and work condition of the destination countries; (f) Provide information on scope of work after return; (g) Provide the migrants with support for protection of their rights; and (h) Raise awareness among the outgoing female workers about their health. The regular activities of BWMA include: (a) Organising monthly meetings with the members at the grassroots, with the target to develop women leadership in where issues of discussion are rights of women migrants, awareness on their health, and development of their skill; (b) Providing with information to the outgoing women migrants on the host countries’ environment, work condition etc.; (c) Providing training to the aspirant / outgoing women migrants on tailoring, cutting, computer and operating household accessories; and (d) Maintaining liaison with legal aid providing organisations and create awareness on the rights of female migrant workers. In 2003, BWMA organised orientation meeting with around 600 aspirant women migrants. In these meetings discussions took place on awareness on rights, health, education and migration process. Among them around 200 went abroad taking overseas employment. The organisation provided training to 30 women on tailoring. Among them five took overseas employment. BWMA also started a school for the women migrants’ children. BWMA organised a seminar on the occasion of International Women Day on 8 March, and a rally on the occasion of International Migrants Day on 18 December.
Address: Bangladeshi Women Migrant Association (BWMA)
63, East Rampura (1st Floor)
Dhaka 1219
Tel: 880-2-8362410, 018-144005