To prevent harassment and violence at workplace, Bangladesh should set a stipulated timeframe to ratify the ILO Convention 190.
Speakers made this observation while taking part in a virtual webinar ‘Workplace Harassment and ILO Convention 190’ hosted jointly by the CARE Bangladesh and Unnayan Shamannay (UnSy) recently even as they maintained that excepting sectors like pharmaceuticals and readymade garments (RMG), some industries need further improvement in workplace conditions before ratifying the convention and suggested that the Government consult the employers, workers and civil society for endorsement.
Taking part in the discussion presided over by Dr. Atiur Rahman, UnSy Chairperson and former Bangladesh Bank Governor, CARE Bangladesh Director (women and girls’ empowerment) Humaira Aziz, reportedly, maintained that around 61.7 per cent women workers experienced harassment of different types at workplaces, of which sexual harassment by male workers was most common, and going on to add that around 20 per cent women workers left or switched jobs due to the management’s unfavourable behaviour about the incidents of sexual harassment even as she cited a survey by the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), as per which, Humaira said at least 232 workers were tortured at workplace in both formal and informal sectors in 2020 and added that for lack of workplace safety around 120 workers were injured in various accidents at workplace while at least 90 workers died in the same year.
Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, the newly elected President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Faruque Hassan, reportedly maintained that whenever a labour-related law or rule or convention is discussed, the RMG sector has become the common target for criticism even as he went on to add that the apparel industry was the most advanced amongst all sectors in Bangladesh.
…when we talk about ratifying the ILO Convention 190, we should focus on other industries…, reportedly, maintained the BGMEA President.
Apart from BGMEA President Faruque Hassan, former Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Fazlul Haque, Bangladesh Employers’ Federation Secretary General Farooq Ahmed, and CARE Bangladesh Director (women and girls’ empowerment) Humaira Aziz, amongst others took part in the webinar.
