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“I left my residence in Bangladesh for a job at a garment manufacturing facility in Jordan six years in the past, I had no thought 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 save cash to go to school.
The primary time I went, I labored as a receptionist at a manufacturing facility in Irbid. After I returned residence 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 facility 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 Normal Commerce Union of Staff in Textile, Garment, and Clothes Industries. He defined what a union organizer does.
I advised 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’t.
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 very good 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 in every of my prime priorities was to determine the problems that migrant employees confronted and discover options by open strains of communication with garment manufacturing facility 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 shedding 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 how one can current their complaints, and others keep away from speaking about their issues for concern of punishment or shedding their jobs.
Some employees, as an example, had been stored on by their employers after their contract ended, however then misplaced the proper 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 communicate or learn Arabic or English. When directions, bulletins, and monetary paperwork are in these languages, it could actually create issues for employees. Being multilingual and a very good 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 numerous coaching programmes run by Higher Work Jordan, overlaying points reminiscent of sexual harassment within the office, efficient communication, private hygiene, collective bargaining, working circumstances, and labour legal guidelines. These trainings have positioned me to be a fair higher advocate for ladies and migrant employees. Serving to and empowering migrant employees has been one 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 have been doing. Through the lockdown, many employees wished 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 provide counsel to those employees, who usually remained stranded in Jordan.
Trying forward
Serving to and empowering migrant employees has been one of the rewarding experiences of my life. With the ability to act as their consultant offers me a way of objective and motivates me to maintain transferring ahead.
I’m additionally completely happy 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 folks.
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 folks higher.
I believe that my success in turning 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).
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