Sajeda is the third child of her parents and studied upto grade III. She worked as a tailor in her village. Her father is an irregular daily labour and it was difficult for him to support a large family. He became unemployed with 7 children including Sajeda. She felt the responsibility to support her family. She never completed her primary school so she didn't know what type of work she could do. A villager informed her about migration option. One of her cousins worked in Oman and arranged visa for her and she paid 70,000 BDT. She took this amount as loan with high interest. She was nervous during her first few weeks in Oman. She was homesick in the initial days but soon adjusted. Her employer assured her with comfortable accommodation and safe environment. She didn't know that she would have to work for an 8 member family. She was overworked and asked to work for more than 13 hours daily without any break. She did not see her contract prior to departure but she was told that her salary would be 12,000BDT. When she arrived she received 11,000 BDT. She asked the employer about it and he said nothing. Sajeda sent all money she earned to his father. She did not even keep anything for her own. The only difficulties she never adjusted with the food. Sajeda was not allowed to call or talk to her family regularly. The only friend she made was an Indonesian maid who use to work in the same house. But they were not allowed to go outside the house. Sajeda returned to Bangladesh after two years as her contract was over. Then she tried to take another job in Qatar. Her two years in Qatar was good as her employer was good. She was asked to work long hour sometimes with no rest. However, she did not complaint as she needed to earn and support her family. She sent her earnings to her father in Bangladesh but found that her father could not save anything. She still has not paid her second migration cost (40,000 BDT) which she took as loan. Sajeda is currently trying to take an overseas job again for supporting the family and repay previous loans. Sajeda suggests potential migrants to have control over their earnings otherwise family members spend all savings out of poverty
