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

“I left my residence in Bangladesh for a job at a garment manufacturing unit in Jordan six years in the past, I had no concept what the longer term would maintain.  However I took an sudden step that modified my life.

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

I believed that I might assist the household financially by working in Jordan. I additionally hoped to economize to go to school.

The primary time I went, I labored as a receptionist at a manufacturing unit in Irbid. After I returned residence after my contract ended, I came upon 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

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

I informed Mr. Arshad that it could be a dream come true for me to get the possibility to assist champion different employees and converse up on behalf of those that can’t.

To my shock, Mr. Arshad reached out to me a couple 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 residing 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 communicator has enabled me to signify and assist many employees who solely converse their native languages.

A bridge between employees and administration

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

One in all my high priorities was to establish the problems that migrant employees confronted and discover options by means of open strains 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 had 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’d 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 outdoors 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 illustration, had been saved on by their employers after their contract ended, however then misplaced the fitting to a airplane ticket residence, 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 nations don’t converse or learn Arabic or English. When directions, bulletins, and monetary paperwork are in these languages, it will possibly create issues for employees. Being multilingual and communicator has enabled me to signify and assist many employees. I really feel proud to have the ability to assist them overcome these language limitations.

I’ve additionally taken half in several coaching programmes run by Higher Work Jordan, overlaying points equivalent to sexual harassment within the office, efficient communication, private hygiene, collective bargaining, working circumstances, and labour legal guidelines. These trainings have positioned me to be an excellent higher advocate for ladies and migrant employees. Serving to and empowering migrant employees has been some of the 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 had been doing. In the course of the lockdown, many employees needed to return to their nations however couldn’t journey as a result of the airport was shut down. I needed to clarify the troublesome state of affairs and supply counsel to those employees, who typically remained stranded in Jordan.

Wanting forward

Serving to and empowering migrant employees has been some of the rewarding experiences of my life. Having the ability to act as their consultant provides me a way of objective and motivates me to maintain shifting ahead.

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

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

I believe that my success in turning into a union organizer is successful 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).