The UN rights body finds “lack of effective measures” in Bangladesh to protect labour trafficking victims and provide them with effective remedies, including compensation and rehabilitation.
"Despite the recent increase, the rates of prosecution remain low and there is insufficient punishment of perpetrators," the committee said on the protection of rights of migrant workers and their families in Bangladesh. UNB has obtained a copy of the 13-page concluding observations made by the committee on Bangladesh at its 359th meeting held on April 13.
In line with target 5.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the committee stressed the need for enhancing inter-agency cooperation at regional levels to check human trafficking and increasing its efforts in protecting rights of human trafficking victims.
The committee welcomed that according to the Wage Earners Welfare Board regulations, the family of any deceased Bangladeshi worker is entitled to receiving compensation and repatriation of the body.
It, however, said it was “seriously concerned” over reports that __more than 5,000 Bangladeshi migrant workers die annually, and of them, at least one-third are reportedly buried abroad. The committee recommended Bangladesh to ensure implementation of the regulation that allows repatriation of deceased migrants bodies free of charge, with full respect to the wishes of the next of kin; receiving free legal aid to secure unpaid wages and compensation from employers and holding the recruiter or recruiting agencies accountable in destination countries.
The committee also suggested conducting independent autopsies on the bodies of deceased migrant workers and give their family members access to the autopsy reports mentioning causes of death.
It urged Bangladesh to provide within two years (by May 1, 2019) written information on the implementation of the recommendations and to submit its second periodic report by May 1, 2022.