7/16/2020 Migrant workers coming home: To what? | The Daily Star "Documentation of wage theft and violations is the need of the hour" Dr Tasneem Siddiqui, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Refugee and Migrating Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) of the University of Dhaka   We interviewed 50 male migrant workers (given the recent influx, we realise this is a mere number), but their stories are so heart wrenching that we've decided to document them. Some had been confined to their homes for three consecutive days without anything to eat. When they did finally step out, they were detained by the authorities. With no work or income, many decided to take up informal jobs, but were arrested soon after. In Dubai, migrant workers were sent straight to detention centres; whatever they had on them (mobile phone, cash) were confiscated and they were not allowed to collect their personal belongings from home. Around 78 percent of the migrants we interviewed faced a similar fate. After forcing them into the detention centres, the authorities suggested the workers had to be repatriated because these centres were not safe—a meaningless claim. They were crammed into cells with 40 migrants in each, whereas the cells for locals held only three to four individuals. They were given barely edible food, and were forced to wear the same clothes for 28 days! Around 84 percent of migrants said they are owed varying amounts in unpaid wages, benefits and other dues. Female migrant workers are facing different kinds of problems. We learnt from various international organisations that a majority of them are victims of xenophobia https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/news/migrant-workers-coming-home-what-1922477 4/14