‘I speak up for those who cannot’ — Global Issues

“I left my dwelling in Bangladesh for a job at a garment manufacturing unit in Jordan six years in the past, I had no thought what the long run would maintain.  However I took an surprising step that modified my life.

I used to be 19. My father owned a small fruit store in Dhaka and my mom labored at dwelling stitching and promoting garments. There are six of us within the household. We may hardly make ends meet.

I assumed that I may assist the household financially by working in Jordan. I additionally hoped to save cash to go to college.

The primary time I went, I labored as a receptionist at a manufacturing unit in Irbid. Once I returned dwelling after my contract ended, I discovered that my father had most cancers and that our household’s monetary issues had worsened.

Along with my native language, Bangla, I’m fluent in Hindi and in English. So once I went again to Jordan I labored as a liaison officer at a garment manufacturing unit in Sahab, helping administration and employees to speak higher.

From a pond to a river

Sooner or later, I met Mr. Arshad, who was an organizer within the Common Commerce Union of Staff in Textile, Garment, and Clothes Industries. He defined what a union organizer does.

I instructed Mr. Arshad that it might be a dream come true for me to get the prospect to assist champion different employees and communicate up on behalf of those that can not.

To my shock, Mr. Arshad reached out to me a number of months later, asking if I used to be within the place. I agreed.

It was liberating. I used to be like a fish who had been dwelling in a pond and had moved to a river. I used to be so honoured to have the ability to signify migrant employees.

Being multilingual and a great communicator has enabled me to signify and assist many employees who solely communicate their native languages.

A bridge between employees and administration

I began my work as a union organizer in November 2020.

One among my high priorities was to establish the problems that migrant employees confronted and discover options by way of open traces of communication with garment manufacturing unit administration.

Arranging conferences with employees was a problem at first due to their lengthy work hours. Many additionally hesitated to open up, even to a consultant from Bangladesh.  Some have been afraid of dropping their jobs and had managers that had suggested them towards cooperating with union organizers as a result of they thought we might trigger issues.

However I used to be decided to make sure these employees would get their voices heard. I promised them anonymity and met with them exterior of their workplaces to assist them really feel snug sufficient to specific themselves

Some employees have no idea tips on how to current their complaints, and others keep away from speaking about their issues for concern of punishment or dropping their jobs.

Some employees, as an example, had been saved on by their employers after their contract ended, however then misplaced the suitable to a airplane ticket dwelling, or an finish of contract bonus. Others have come to me about experiences of sexual harassment. Some reported delays in receiving their salaries or arguments they’ve had with their supervisors.

Most employees from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and different international locations don’t communicate or learn Arabic or English. When directions, bulletins, and monetary paperwork are in these languages, it could create issues for employees. Being multilingual and a great communicator has enabled me to signify and assist many employees. I really feel proud to have the ability to assist them overcome these language boundaries.

I’ve additionally taken half in several coaching programmes run by Higher Work Jordan, protecting points comparable to sexual harassment within the office, efficient communication, private hygiene, collective bargaining, working situations, and labour legal guidelines. These trainings have positioned me to be an excellent higher advocate for girls and migrant employees. Serving to and empowering migrant employees has been probably the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Below COVID-19 restrictions, I couldn’t maintain in-person conferences with employees and needed to depend on phone calls to see how the employees have been doing. Through the lockdown, many employees wished to return to their international locations however couldn’t journey as a result of the airport was shut down. I needed to clarify the troublesome state of affairs and provide counsel to those employees, who usually remained stranded in Jordan.

Trying forward

Serving to and empowering migrant employees has been probably the most rewarding experiences of my life. With the ability to act as their consultant offers me a way of function and motivates me to maintain transferring ahead.

I’m additionally joyful to have the ability to proceed to ship a refund to my household in Bangladesh and really feel pleasure in my illustration of different Bengali individuals.

I plan to turn into a coach so I may also help migrant employees much more. I additionally wish to do a level in psychology, which can assist me perceive individuals higher.

I feel that my success in changing into a union organizer is a hit for all of us who’re migrant employees in Jordan.”

A model of this story first appeared on the web site of our colleagues on the Worldwide Labour Organisation (ILO).