Assessing the Challenges of Bangladeshi Migrant Workers’ Journey to Jordan

Bangladeshi workers make up over 50% of the overall migrant workforce of the garment industry in Jordan. The labour migration process from Bangladesh involves particularly complex challenges in terms of governance, worker protection and international cooperation. The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE) is the main governing body overseeing the entire migration process. Under the ministry, the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) is the executive agency and is entrusted with regulating the recruitment process for migrant workers. The Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), a subordinate organization of the MoEWOE, serves as the Government’s recruitment agency for overseas employment. BOESL collaborates closely with local recruitment agencies and plays a crucial role in the selection process for the Jordanian garment industry, as nearly all Bangladeshi workers bound for the Jordanian garment industry must undergo the BOESL recruitment process.

Labour migration processes often lack transparency and accountability, leaving prospective migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation by intermediaries. In some cases, migrant workers are trapped in debt bondage due to excessive fees charged by intermediaries. Furthermore, prospective workers often lack awareness of the terms and conditions of their employment, including wages, working hours, and living conditions. In some cases, the decision to migrate was made on insufficient information which led to dissatisfaction or regret. Therefore, it is imperative to improve migrant workers’ well-being in the Jordanian garment sector by safeguarding them from exploitation and abuse throughout their whole migration journey. Effort should be made to ensure a fairer and safer recruitment process, along with better working conditions in Jordan. To achieve this, research with a worker-centric approach is necessary to identify challenges faced by migrant workers both before departure and upon arrival in Jordan.